Mario Chalmers has been with the Heat his whole career.
Mario Chalmers isn't a kid anymore.
The 28-year-old point guard out of the University of Kansas can no longer be called "the little brother" of the Miami Heat. Chalmers is most often known as the guy that LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh have yelled at, on court, over the years. He has been the brunt of jokes of everyone from TV pundits to the president.
But if you strip all that away, here is something to take away. Chalmers has an NCAA championship, and was the starting point guard for a team that went to four consecutive NBA Finals, and won two of them. In Finals wins for the Heat over the past four years, Chalmers averaged 11 points, three rebounds, and three assists shooting 48 percent in wins, and just 7.8 points, two rebounds, and three assists in losses, shooting 40 percent.
And while the spotlight is gone from the Heat after LeBron James left, and while the team struggles with injuries and the absence of the Chosen One, Chalmers has posted a career high in assist percentage (24.7 percent) and is trying to fill in a new role, coming off the bench and playing more shooting guard.
Chalmers was a free agent last summer, but returned to Miami instead of trying to find a new home and a fresh start. He's stuck with where he's been successful, no matter how often he's been perceived as a punchline. Chalmers sat down with CBSSports.com recently to talk about how life has changed since you know who left, about playing point guard in the NBA, and about Alaska.
Matt Moore: I've talked to a few point guards, Mike Conley and Goran Dragic among them, and they said it wasn't until their third or fourth year that they really started to learn how to play point guard in the NBA. Was that the same for you?
Mario Chalmers: I think for me it was a little bit different. My first few years, I started off and I just played point guard. My third year, LeBron (James) came in and I moved to shooting guard, more, playing off the ball. I'd say I'm still really trying to fully get the concept. I've always been able to play both positions.
Moore: When was the last time you were back in Alaska?
Chalmers: 2010.
Moore: Do you miss it at all?
Chalmers: I do miss it.
(Shawne Williams interjects: "What is that, like, the Kodiak?" Chalmers waves him off.)
Chalmers: Yeah, I do miss it. It's always going to be home for me. But Charlotte feels like home, too. My mom's originally from North Carolina (where his parents moved after he joined the NBA). It still feels like home.
Moore: What was free agency like for you?
Chalmers: It was really a waiting game. Everything was on hold until LeBron made his decision, so I was really just waiting to see what I wanted to do. I had a couple offers from different teams, but in the end I wanted to stay here, I wanted to stay with Miami. I'm a very loyal person, and I've been here for so long.
Moore: So basically, when those guys came back you were like (snap), "I'm in?"
Chalmers: Yeah, pretty much. Especially when I found out (Chris Bosh) was coming back and DWade re-signed, it was pretty much a no-brainer.
Moore: So those guys coming back had a big influence?
Chalmers: Yeah, I mean, I've been with DWade all my career, being able to learn from him, and be able to play with CB was a great opportunity.
Moore: Was part of that the familiarity with Spo?
Chalmers: That had a little bit to do with it but moreso the team. It was knowing what we'd been through those four years, and just the opportunity to try and get better.
Moore: I've noticed on a lot of plays, you're throwing to spots, not necessarily where a guy actually is. Is that just comfort with the system, or more of an anticipation of what guys should do?
Chalmers: Just knowing where they're going to be. Building that chemistry up in practice, and being able to apply it in games is an important thing. My teammates are doing a good job of getting to their spots.
Moore: Does this season feel different without the media circus of the last few years?
Chalmers: It is...
Moore: Do you miss it?
Chalmers: I don't, actually. You know it's good to be able to play underneath the radar and just play basketball, not have to do anything else.
Moore: Stan Van Gundy says that the altitude affect in Denver is a myth. Do you feel it's real?
Chalmers: You definitely feel it. But that's Denver. It's a home-court advantage and they make the most of it.
Moore: There's been talk of realigning conferences, which could result in more games on these long road trips, but you'd have more time between games. Would you support that kind of schedule?
Chalmers: It doesn't even really faze me. Just being able to play every game, that's the important thing.
Moore: Did you and your teammates have any discussion about wearing the "I Can't Breathe" shirts?
Chalmers: We had a little bit of discussion about it. Nobody's said too much. We're taking a stand on it as an NBA as a whole, but as a team we haven't talked too much about it.
Moore: This is an awkward question, but I don't know how to facilitate a dialogue without awkward questions. Is it at all harder to talk about these issues when something like over 80 percent of the NBA media is white?
Chalmers: Nah, that has nothing to do with it. We have strong opinions, I know if I feel strongly about something, I'm going to say something about it. But right now, we're just playing basketball, just trying to go on a winning streak.
Moore: It's tough, because I feel like the only way to talk about these things is to ask about them, and you're a pro athlete, so people do care what you say, but I also don't want something you say to get taken out of context.
Chalmers: You definitely gotta watch what you say, but there's a time and place for everything.
Moore: Guys I've talked to have said that they use scouting reports mostly for defensive info, they don't pay much attention on the offensive end. Is the same true for you?
Chalmers: Nah, I pay attention more to the defense. I just try and get the edge on my opponent, to see what they do, what they don't do, things like that. It's definitely on the defensive side.
Moore: What are the things you're looking for to try and provide an edge? Is it just tendencies?
Chalmers: It's everything. You're just trying to feel like, you'll be better on defense if you can find some things that they're doing, to know how they play better.
Full article:
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24912189/qa-heat-guard-mario-chalmers-is-not-a-kid-anymore
