Longtime Miami Heat point guard Mario Chalmers is looking for another shot in the NBA. In July, Chalmers rejoined the Memphis Grizzlies, the last team he played for before he suffered a major injury last year. Chalmers inked a one-year deal with the Grizzlies that only guarantees him $25,000. Despite being signed to a partially guaranteed contract, he has a positive outlook.
"I think I'm already a part of this. I'm here. That's the mindset and the approach I have. With my game and my experience, I’ll let my game doing the talking," Chalmers said during Memphis' media day according to The Commercial Appeal.
Chalmers' NBA career began when the Minnesota Timberwolves selected him with the 34th overall pick in the 2008 draft. The Timberwolves then traded the 31-year-old to the Heat. It is in Miami where he made a name for himself. With the Heat, he was a regular in the rotation and a key contributor. Chalmers was part of the Heat squads that went to the NBA Finals four consecutive times from 2011 to 2014 and won two championships.
In 2015, Chalmers and the Heat parted ways when they sent him to the Grizzlies. He was playing well for Memphis until he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon. The Grizzlies waived him following this. Chalmers attempted to stage a comeback during the previous season, but no team signed him.
Reunion with David Fizdale
Chalmers' return to Memphis means he is again working with David Fizdale. Before Fizdale became the head coach of the Grizzlies, he served as an assistant coach in Miami for eight years (2008-2016). During the Grizzlies' media day, the 43-year-old stated that he is happy to reunite with Chalmers.
Fizdale also spoke about Chalmers' "big role" with the Grizzlies.
He added that the point guard is working hard after accepting the challenge he gave which is to be in better shape.
Longshot
Making it to the Grizzlies' final roster is easier said than done for Chalmers. As of the moment, he is gunning for the backup role at point guard. It is a tough test since he is competing with players who are way younger than him.
Andrew Harrison (22) and Wade Baldwin IV (21) are the ones he should outperform if he wants to become the second-stringer at no. 1.
As Chalmers mentioned, he is banking on his experience, which is his biggest advantage over Harrison and Baldwin. If he gets the job, the Grizzlies will have two experienced guys at point guard. The starting duties belong to franchise star Mike Conley.
