KU’s Chalmers, Jackson, Rush, Wright to play in pay-per-view hoops event in Las Vegas
Three members of Kansas’ 2008 national title team, Mario Chalmers, Brandon Rush and Darnell Jackson, as well as former Jayhawk Julian Wright are scheduled to compete in The 5 Tournament Pro Basketball Invitational set for July 19-29 at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
The four Jayhawks will be on different teams in the six-team, 30-player 3-on-3 tourney, which will be available only on FITE pay-per-view. No tickets will be sold for the event because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Chalmers will compete for Miami, Rush for Sacramento, Jackson for New York and Wright for Toronto in the tourney, which also features former NBA players Joe Jackson, Mike Bibby, Nate Robinson, Carlos Arroyo and others.
“I’m very excited. This is probably the longest I’ve been away from basketball when I’ve been healthy,” combo guard Chalmers said earlier this week on Alex Kennedy’s HoopsHype.com podcast.
“I’ve definitely got the itch to be back there playing and competing, being able to have some fun, to play basketball with these guys,” Chalmers added.
Chalmers, 34, played in Greece during the 2019-20 season, which was cut short in March because of the pandemic.
Chalmers — he won two NBA titles with the Miami Heat in his nine years in the league — has completely recovered from the achilles tear that he suffered in 2016. He sat out the entire 2016-17 season before returning to the NBA with Memphis in 2017-18. He’s played overseas the past two seasons.
Rush, a 35-year-old small forward, like Chalmers played in Greece in 2019-20. Jackson, a 34-year-old power forward, played in Poland last season. Wright, a 33-year-old forward last played in France two seasons ago. He was to play in China this past season, but returned to the U.S. in January because of the coronavirus outbreak. Wright has started a new coaching and training venture, ADAPT Basketball, just outside of Charlotte, North Carolina.
Chalmers, who like Wright lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, has been pondering life after his playing days are over.
“Right now I’m going through my options. I’d like it to be something to do with basketball — coaching or be a scout,” Chalmers said. “Those are two things I’m interested in now.”
Why scouting?
“I think I’d be a good scout. I think I’m pretty good recognizing talent. I want to give them (prospects) a helping hand and helping voice,” Chalmers said.
“I’m trying to get different business deals, trying to learn a little bit about the stock market, putting this 5 Tournament together. I’m trying to keep myself busy, working out a lot, trying to do different things,” he added on the Alex Kennedy podcast.
Chalmers has said he’s available to sign with any NBA team that may need replacement players during the upcoming reboot of the season at the end of this month in Orlando, Florida.
“I definitely think I can still help a team,’ Chalmers said. “I have a lot of knowledge. I’ve won two NBA championships, a college championship. I can provide a lot of knowledge to a young point guard and be a mentor. If I come back to the NBA, that’s what I’ll be. I’ll be open to it if it happens.”
Chalmers acknowledged that not being able to resume his NBA career despite being healthy is “frustrating because I feel with my resume I’m a proven winner. (I’m) not a bad guy in the locker room, not a jerk. To not get a chance, not get a workout is a little disheartening, but that’s the way the business goes, too.”
Here are the rosters for The 5 Tournament. Players on the winning team will split $100,000.
Miami: Mario Chalmers, Rob Hite, Craig Smith, Ricky Davis, Corsley Edwards.
Sacramento: Brandon Rush, Mike Bibby, Donte Green, Dahntay Jones, Jermaine Taylor.
New York: Darnell Jackson, Qyntel Woods, Solomon Jones, Mardy Collins, Dermarr Johnson.
Toronto: Julian Wright, Jamario Moon, Carlos Arroyo, Mike Taylor, Will Solomon.
Chicago: Nate Robinson, Derrick Byars, Will Bynum, Eddy Curry, Eddie Basden.
Texas: Joe Johnson, Josh Powell, James White, David Hawkins, Mike James.
This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 10:35 AM.
