Two NBA Championships, an NCAA title, and a long list of individual accolades, but does the former Miami Heat PG Mario Chalmers get enough credit? Shaquille O’Neal doesn’t think so. In an episode of “The Big Podcast with Shaq,” O’Neal triggered a discussion on an apparent gap in reputation within the basketball world by flagging Mario Chalmers’ undervalue.

The four-time NBA Champion asked Chalmers about how he feels not getting enough credit for his achievements to which Chalmers agreed while sharing his thoughts on the matter.

O’Neal had an open discussion about Chalmers in which he discussed many facets of their basketball careers and life experiences. In the middle of the quips and conversation, only asked Chalmers, “I have a question you’ve won on every level. Do you feel people give you the respect that you deserve? Cuz, I kind of know how you see lesser people get more props than you get so yeah how you feel about that?”

Chalmers quickly replied “no” when it came to getting the deserved recognition before describing how he felt, “I mean it is what it is. I have never been the guy that’s you know relishing my accolades. I always talk about it you know I like to be the small guy the guy in the background I get to move easier that way. So I’ve always liked it I know what I can do on the court. I can hold my own against anybody. So I’m not worried about that and the proof is in plain. It takes a lot to be able to say you won on every level.”

Apart from winning the NBA Championships twice with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013, Chalmers also won the 2019 FIBA Champions League title with Virtus Bologna of Italy and then lifted the Greek Cup in 2020 with AEK Athens.

Chalmers also has a list an impressive list of accomplishments to his name right from his NCAA days where he made history with Kansas City.

Chalmers made his name with the University of Kansas before NBA move

Mario Chalmers began his college basketball career with the University of Kansas in 2005. He finished his freshman year averaging 11.5 points per game, which was second highest on the team. Chalmers set the KU and Big 12 Conference record for most steals in a season by a freshman with 89.

During his tenure he was named to the Big 12 All-Rookie Team, Big 12 All-Defensive Team, All-Big 12 Honorable Mention (Coaches), Third-Team All-Big-12 (AP), Big 12 All-Tournament Team, and the Big 12 Tournament MVP. In the 2006/07 season, his total of 97 steals put him in first place in Kansas basketball history for steals in a single season.

After leading Kansas to the 2008 NCAA title, he won the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player award.

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In the NBA, Chalmers set a record for Miami with nine steals in a game in just his fourth NBA game. In his rookie year, his two steals per game ranked number one among all rookies and the fourth highest among all players. This earned him a place in the NBA All-Rookie Second Team that year.

He also played a key part in Miami’s title success in 2012, scoring 25 points in Game 4 of the Finals. In Game 5, he recorded 10 points, seven assists, and two rebounds in 34 minutes of action. He was instrumental in Heat repeating their title success a year later as well.

Chalmers’s success in the NBA represents a prime illustration of the value “small guy” of patience and self-assurance in the face of odds. Where does Mario Chalmers rank for you?

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