For many retired NBA players, the BIG3 offers a way to stay close to the game while proving their talent still shines. That was evident last night as the Miami 305 claimed the BIG3 championship in dramatic fashion over the Chicago Triplets. Michael Beasley powered Miami with 25 points to earn MVP honors, but the spotlight ultimately belonged to 39-year-old Mario Chalmers. With just four seconds left, he caught a pass near the free-throw line and buried a game-winning three, sparking a wild celebration. But Chalmers isn’t a one-night star!

While this might be the first time many of the people saw Chalmers make an unforgettable buzzer-beater, Miami Heat and Kansas Jayhawks fans would’ve been drenched in nostalgia seeing the veteran in action. That’s because the NCAA legend and two-time NBA champion has given several such memories to both these fan bases. Speaking of which, why don’t we refresh our memories and take a look at Mario Chalmers’ early days, nationality, and ethnicity?

Where is Mario Chalmers from, and what is his nationality?

Winning the BIG3 league was the latest chapter in Mario Chalmers’ storied basketball career. However, do you know where this began? Well, it began in Anchorage, Alaska, where Chalmers was born on May 19, 1986, to parents Ronnie and Almarie Chalmers. Being born and raised in Alaska makes him an American national. So, just like most American kids, being an American, Mario also started hooping as soon as he could pick up a ball.

In fact, it was his dad, Ronnie, who would play one-on-one games with him in their backyard. However, it wasn’t until 12 that Mario was able to beat Ronnie for the first time in his life. And as expected, when this happened, Chalmers ran straight to his mom in the kitchen, yelling, “I beat him! I beat him!” Since then, the point guard has gone on to win several accolades.

All the way from being the only Alaskan to win a state championship with his school to two Larry O’Brien trophies with the Miami Heat. While his parents have played a huge role in helping their son achieve this, there’s one more thing that’s helped Mario Chalmers a lot– his heritage. But wait, what is the former Kansas guard’s ethnicity?

What is Mario Chalmers’ ethnicity and religion?

If you haven’t clocked in already, Mario Chalmers is African-American by descent, something he deeply respects and values. Mario’s parents have arguably had the biggest impact both on his on and off-court life. However, if there’s anything else that has shaped the person the 39-year-old is today, it’s his heritage.

Both of Mario’s parents, Ronnie and Almarie, have always been vocal about their African-American roots, which motivated their son to follow in their footsteps. The former NBA and NCAA star always speaks highly of his heritage, and why shouldn’t he? After all, it had helped him become the hard-working, resilient, and calm guy we all see on the court.

Another huge reason for his calm demeanor on the court could be the 39-year-old’s religious beliefs. However, not much is known about whether even if the former NBA guard follows one or not. Nonetheless, given that he was raised in an African American household, it’s safe to assume that Mario is Catholic, just like most of the African American athletes all around the country.

Having said that, now we all know about Mario Chalmers’ nationality, religion, and ethnicity. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s still a lot more to discover about the former Heat and Memphis Grizzlies guard’s family and heritage. Don’t you want to know about where the six-foot-four Anchorage native gets his basketball genes from?

Mario Chalmers’ family background

Now, we all know that Ronnie and Almarie Chalmers are the people behind Mario Chalmers’ success. But do you know that both of Mario’s parents are hoopers in their own right? No, right? Well, whether you might believe it or not, the veteran guard comes from a basketball-rich heritage. That’s because his dad, who has also been his son’s coach and manager, was a hooper back in the day.

Ronnie, who spent 22 years in the Air Force, was also a small forward for the Air Force and the armed services teams. In fact, he was so good that he even got offered a scholarship from the Citadel when he was 24, but the Air Force declined to grant his release, sending him to Alaska instead. “I wanted to be a pro,” Ronnie told ESPN. “But I never had the right doors open up for me.”

That’s why, when four years later Mario was born, Ronnie made sure the same fate did not fall upon his son. And so when his days in the Air Force were over, he took up coaching and coached several high schools, colleges (he served as the director of basketball at the University of Kansas), and later his son. However, Ronnie wasn’t the only one who helped Mario grow up; his mother also played a huge role.

While Ronnie was the on-court coach, Almarie, who was also a basketball coach and even wrote a book, “The Ball is in Your Court: Embracing Your Child’s Dreams“, maintained the high training standards inside the house. This goes to show that Mari Chalmers would’ve never become the NBA and NCAA star that we know without his parents.