In This Story
Miami Heat
Aug 24, 2025 5:03 PM EDT
Not many players in NBA history can say that they won an NBA title and an NCAA title. Both are pretty rare honors to have, and some of the NBA’s best players ever have such an honor, including Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, and Magic Johnson.
Another player who has such an honor is Mario Chalmers, who won an NCAA title with Kansas in 2008 and then went on to win two NBA titles with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013. Chalmers didn’t win a title just because he was on the roster, either. He started every playoff game he played for the Heat during those title runs.
Chalmers had a pretty successful basketball career, even if he was never a star and never truly came close. He played three years in the NCAA from 2005 to 2008 and ten years in the NBA from 2008 to 2018.
Mario Chalmers Hits Game-Winning Shot in Big 3 Tournament
Chalmers hasn’t played in the NBA in quite some time. In fact, the last time he played professional basketball was in 2023 with the Zamboanga Valientes. However, he has decided to participate in the Big 3 league, which many former players participate in after their NBA careers are finished.
Chalmers not only played this summer but also won a championship with his team, the Miami 305. Not only that, but Chalmers hit the game-winning shot that secured the Miami 305’s Big 3 title, which was shared by CBS Sports’ X account.
Oops! We’re unable to load this content right now.
View directly on 𝕏
Among the other former NBA players who won the title with Chalmers on the team were his former Heat teammate Michael Beasley, Lance Stephenson, Reggie Evans, and Sean Williams.
There is some significance to this besides Chalmers winning yet another basketball championship. Chalmers also hit one of the most clutch shots in NCAA history, a game-tying three-pointer for Kansas during the 2008 NCAA Championship game, which the Jayhawks would go on to win in overtime.
Chalmers also hit some important shots for the Heat during their title runs. In what was one of the most epic Game 7s in NBA Finals history, Chalmers hit a buzzer-beating three in the third quarter against the San Antonio Spurs in 2013. Doing so helped the Heat take a one-point lead going into the fourth, which they later won, 95-88.
It’s clear that no matter what league he plays in, Chalmers does not shrink in the moment.
About the Author
Matt John
Trending News Writer, Athlon Sports
Matt John is a contributing writer for the Athlon Sports trending and breaking news team.