The top 10 Miami Heat players since 2010
By Cory Sanning
9. Mario Chalmers
Stats (2011-2016): 8.9 points, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 36 percent from 3
There couldn’t be top-10 list without him, right?
Chalmers was highly praised coming out of college, where he made a name for himself as a clutch shooter for the Kansas Jayhawks, iconically hitting the typing 3 pointer in the final seconds of regulation against Derrick Rose and the Memphis Tigers in 2008.
Since the formation of the Big 3 in 2010, Chalmers was determined not to fall in the shadows of James, Wade, and Bosh. While the three would publicly chastize him on the court at times, it would usually bring out the best in him.
In 2011, Chalmers came up huge in the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 12 points per game while dishing out four assists and collecting two steals per game. He also shot the ball considerably well from beyond the arc, hitting on a 40 percent clip from that distance.
From then on, his “Mr. Clutch” tattoo he bears on his right arm would ring true time and time again.
In the 2012 Finals, Chalmers dropped 25 points in Game 4 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, giving Miami a stranglehold on the series, and effectively ending it with his driving scoop lay up past Serge Ibaka with just under a minute remaining.
The next year, Chalmers would finish as Miami’s leading scorer with 19 in Game 2 of the 2013 Finals against San Antonio, and would go on to score 20 and 12 in Games 6 and 7 respectively.
While he would go on to suffer an abysmal performance in the 2014 Finals rematch with the Spurs, Chalmers stayed around, and was still a very effective piece, whether it be coming off the bench or in the starting lineup.
He’s suffered an Achilles injury since being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, and after a long year of rehab, hopes to be ready to go come opening night.
Seeing Chalmers suit up in a Grizzlies uniform is a sight to see, but you can’t help but reminisce every time he returns to Miami as a visitor.