Mario Chalmers - NBA Draft Prospects

Numbers: 12.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2.5 spg, 1.9 t/o's, 52% FG, 75%, 47% 3's

About Him: Mario Chalmers has developed into a very good point guard. He is one of the best shooters in the country - 52% from the field, 47% from behind the arc while taking over four a game. Part of the reason he shoots a such a high percentage is he doesn't take many bad shots. If he does take a bad shot, it is normally a result of him over-penetrating. He is not a great finisher because he is not very explosive and does not have great athleticism, so when he gets in the lane he tends to force shots. He does not have a great mid-range either, and his handle could use a lot of improvement. Defensively he has phenomenal length and timing, which makes him a great defender. He gets in the passing lanes and uses his length to play much bigger than 6'1". He manages to contest just about every shot and pass the guy he is guarding makes. The biggest issue is that Chalmers is not a pure point guard. He is very good at running an offense because is very unselfish (which is good for a player that projects as a back-up), but he is not a great play maker and just doesn't have great point guard instincts. He averages 4.3 apg, but that is more a result of the complex offenses that Kansas runs.

Comparisons: Daniel Gibson, Derek Fisher, Chris Duhon (with a jump shot, minus driving ability)

Bottom Line: Chalmers is probably going to be a career back-up, or at least career role player. But his unselfishness will allow him to slide into that role perfectly. He may not be a great playmaker down the road, but he will always be able to shoot and defend. He's probably a second round pick right now, but in a year he could be a mid first rounder.