Ranking the 25 best Kansas basketball NBA careers of all-time

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 04: Paul Pierce and Drew Gooden attend the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the North Carolina Tar Heels during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament National Championship at Caesars Superdome on April 04, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

12 of 25

Mario Chalmers #4 of the Kansas Jayhawks (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/USA TODAY Sports) /

462. . PG. Jayhawks . Mario Chalmers. 14. player

Career statistics: 646 games, 8.9 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 3.7 APG, 41.7% FG

Miami Heat, 2008-2015
Memphis Grizzlies, 2015-2018

Chalmers propelled Bill Self to his first NCAA Championship after sending Kansas to overtime with “The Shot.” His success did not end when he arrived in Miami to play for the Heat, winning two NBA Finals rings as their starting point guard.

Chalmers was a valuable piece in South Beach during his tenure, and he was not afraid of big moments. He even jawed with NBA legend LeBron James on the sidelines on several occasions. On top of being a solid playmaker, “Rio” controlled the offense’s tempo and was a pesky defender. He averaged one or more steals per game in each of his nine NBA seasons.

During his best statistical campaign, Chalmers averaged 10.0 points, 4.9 assists, and 2.0 steals — all in his first year in the league. It earned him a spot on the All-Rookie Second Team. He was a reliable veteran presence that played his role perfectly alongside the “Big Three” in Miami.

Home/KU Basketball All-Time Lists