Chalmers’ KU shot lives on as Alaska Sports Hall of Fame recognizes the ‘moment’
Former University of Kansas men’s basketball star Mario Chalmers has been inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame … for a second time.
Chalmers, a native of Anchorage, Alaska, was enshrined in the “Moments” category of the state of Alaska’s Hall of Fame during the Hall’s 17th annual induction ceremony Thursday at Anchorage Museum.
Chalmers, 39, who played as a combo guard at KU from 2006-08 and in the NBA for nine seasons, was inducted in the “People” category of the Alaska Sports Hall back in 2014.
The “Moment” that was celebrated Thursday was his cashing a 3-point basket with time running out, forcing overtime in KU’s 75-68 overtime victory over Memphis in the 2008 NCAA title game in San Antonio.
Others inducted Thursday in the “People” category: Brandon Dubinsky, a former NHL player from Anchorage and Alev Kelter, a bronze medal winner for Team USA in rugby at the 2024 Olympics. She hails from Eagle River, Alaska and also was a standout hockey player in college.
According to alaskasportshall.org, Chalmers’ stay in his hometown from Anchorage last week was cut short as he is in the middle of a promotional tour for the Big 3’s 3-on-3 league, in which he has competed for several years.
Yes, his hoops career continues at the age of 39.
In all, 23 Moments have been included in Alaska’s Hall, while 49 individuals are enshrined in the People category.
Two moments were recognized Thursday: Chalmers’ shot as well as Anchorage being named America’s choice to host the 1992 Winter Olympic Games. The bid ultimately went to France.
“The moments that get inducted into the Hall of Fame are the times that have resonated historically,” said Hall of Fame executive director Harlow Robinson. “Mario’s shot and Anchorage’s Olympic bid are very different types of moments but both of them evoke a ton of pride for Alaskans to this day.”
Chalmers was a two-time state champion at Bartlett High School in Anchorage. He’s the first Alaskan to capture an NBA title (2012 with Miami which also won it with Chalmers playing a big role in 2013). He’s one of 15 individuals to win a high school state title, NCAA title and NBA title.
“Alaska made me the person I am today,” Chalmers said to Hall of Fame director Robinson in 2014. “I learned a lot out here, did a lot of things out here. It’s just home for me.
“Coming in the gym for late hours, not really wanting to work out but pushing myself to work out. I had a lot of people tell me I wasn’t going to amount to anything, that I wouldn’t make it, I’d just be another average Alaska kid. So that was my motivation and my drive right there. Hopefully by me being out there and putting things on the map shows people Alaska does have a lot to offer.”
At Chalmers’ youth camp in 2021 in Anchorage, he said to reporters: “The biggest message is don’t let anybody tell you you can’t do anything. That was a big thing that was preached to me. I’m trying to teach the kids things I went through, different situations I went through. Just a friendly face to the community and tell them how I made it out.”
Camp organizer Jocquis Sconiers told alaskanewssource.com: “It’s been a blessing to have Mario up here, bring him back to Alaska. He is a legend, making it to the NBA, doing what he did with Kansas. Great opportunity to have kids see their own doing something great outside of Alaska.”
Chalmers said on the Dwight Howard podcast that he practiced last-second 3-point shots as a youth in Alaska.
“Every day,” Chalmers said. “Shooting with mittens, gloves, everything. That’s how dedicated I was to get out of Alaska. I got witnesses to tell you.”
