Just win, baby.  That’s Mario Chalmers.

Of all the basketball players from Alaska, nobody has achieved more success than the 6-foot-2 point guard from Anchorage.  He is the only Alaskan to win championships in high school, college and the pros, and he’s nearly done it twice.

This guy just wins at any level – hitting big shots every step of the way.

It started at Bartlett High School, where as a freshman he sank the go-ahead free throws in the final seconds to help the Golden Bears escape the first round on their way to winning back-to-back Class 4A state titles.  He was a three-time Alaska Player of the Year in 2003, 2004 and 2005.  As a senior, he played in the McDonald’s All-American game and led the West team with 20 points.

It continued at the University of Kansas, where he averaged 12.2. points in 110 games with Kansas and was the Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year.  He was also the Most Outstanding Player of the 2006 Big 12 Championships and the Most Outstanding Player of the 2008 NCAA Final Four when he drilled a game-tying 3-pointer with 2.1 seconds left in regulation to force overtime in a win over Memphis in the NCAA national championship game.

It has sustained in the NBA, where he won world championships in 2012 and 2013 with sidekicks LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Chalmers has appeared in 99 career NBA playoff games, the most of any Alaskan, and is the Heat’s all-time postseason leader in 3-pointers.  He also shares the franchise single-game record with 10 3-pointers en route to scoring his career high of 34 points.

After seven seasons with the Heat, Chalmers left the team in 2015 and spent most of the 2015-16 campaign with the Memphis Grizzlies.

He is also a winner off the court, creating the Mario V. Chalmers Foundation, which provides funding for a wide range of community organizations from inspiring youth activities to helping women with breast cancer.

– Van Williams