Naji Maurice Marshall Bio
Naji Maurice Marshall is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Born on January 24, 1998, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Marshall played college basketball for the Xavier Musketeers before going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft. After signing with the New Orleans Pelicans, he spent four seasons developing his craft in the NBA before joining the Mavericks as a free agent in 2024. Marshall has built a reputation as a versatile forward capable of contributing across multiple statistical categories.
Early Life and Background
Marshall was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and moved to Maryland at the age of 9. He is the son of Maurice Marshall, a former professional boxer who later became a basketball coach at an elementary school, and Rayna Whitted, who works at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. His name means “strong warrior” in Arabic and was a nickname worn by his father during his boxing career. Marshall grew up with five brothers and one sister, and he spent his middle school years playing in Atlantic City’s Triple-B summer youth basketball league.
Marshall played his first season of high school basketball at Takoma Academy before transferring to Eleanor Roosevelt High School as a sophomore. Though academically ineligible his first year at Eleanor Roosevelt, he returned as a senior and averaged 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals per game while leading the Raiders to a 23-3 record. He scored 27 points in the Maryland 4A state semifinal victory over Perry Hall High School. To improve his academic standing, Marshall attended Hargrave Military Academy as a postgraduate student, where he averaged 20.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. He competed for DC Premier on the AAU circuit and was considered a four-star prospect, with ESPN ranking him as the 20th-best small forward in his class.
Path to Professional Basketball
Marshall received scholarship offers from several major programs, including Pittsburgh, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech, but ultimately committed to Xavier University because he liked the culture of the program. His decision proved fruitful as he immediately made an impact at the collegiate level. In his opening game for the Musketeers against Morehead State, Marshall contributed 12 points and four rebounds. He scored a season-high 21 points in a win over Georgetown and was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team, averaging 7.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while making 18 starts.
Naji Maurice Marshall Career
New Orleans Pelicans (2020–2024)
After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Marshall signed a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans and their NBA G League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks, on December 8, 2020. He made his NBA debut on January 15, 2021, against the Los Angeles Lakers. Marshall began receiving consistent minutes in April 2021 due to a rash of injuries to Pelicans players, and his performance earned him a multi-year contract on May 7, 2021. In his rookie season, he averaged 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 39.2 percent from the field.
Marshall continued his development with the Pelicans organization through the 2021-22 season, occasionally being assigned to the Birmingham Squadron, the Pelicans’ G League affiliate. His tenure in New Orleans lasted four seasons, during which he established himself as a reliable rotation player capable of contributing on both ends of the court.
Dallas Mavericks (2024–Present)
On July 6, 2024, Marshall signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks as a free agent. The move represented a significant step in his career, joining a franchise with championship aspirations. Marshall made an immediate impact in his first season with the Mavericks, demonstrating improved scoring ability and consistency.
On December 28, 2024, Marshall was suspended for four games following an altercation with Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkić during a game. He responded by returning to the court with renewed focus. On March 25, 2025, Marshall scored a career-high 38 points alongside seven rebounds in a 128-113 loss to the New York Knicks, showcasing his offensive capabilities and ability to create scoring opportunities.
Playing Style and Strengths
Marshall is known for his versatility as a small forward, combining scoring ability with solid rebounding and playmaking skills. His collegiate career showed continuous improvement, particularly in his jump shooting and conditioning. Standing 6 feet 6 inches and weighing 220 pounds, he possesses the size to match up against various opponents while maintaining the mobility to guard multiple positions. His basketball IQ and understanding of the game allow him to make smart decisions with the ball, whether looking for his own shot or creating opportunities for teammates.
Notable Events and Milestones
Marshall’s career has included several significant moments, from his collegiate achievements at Xavier to his NBA milestones. The game-winning three-pointer he hit against Georgetown in March 2020 demonstrated his clutch performance ability. His career-high 38-point game with the Mavericks in March 2025 represented his evolution into a more prominent offensive contributor at the NBA level.
Naji Maurice Marshall Career Highlights
Marshall has accumulated achievements at both the collegiate and professional levels, highlighted by multiple All-Big East honors during his three seasons at Xavier and consistent rotation player status in the NBA.
College Career Highlights
At Xavier, Marshall earned First-team All-Big East honors in 2020, Second-team All-Big East honors in 2019, and was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team in 2018. He scored 1,277 career points across three seasons as a Musketeer. His notable performances included scoring a career-high 31 points in a win over St. John’s during his sophomore season and matching that mark against Cincinnati in the Crosstown Shootout during his junior year. His game-winning three-pointer against Georgetown in March 2020 solidified his reputation for clutch performances in crucial moments.
Professional Career Highlights
In the NBA, Marshall made his debut with the Pelicans in January 2021 and earned a multi-year contract later that season based on his strong play. His most prolific professional performance came on March 25, 2025, when he scored a career-high 38 points for the Mavericks against the New York Knicks. His career totals include stops with the Erie BayHawks and Birmingham Squadron in the G League during his time with the Pelicans organization.
Naji Maurice Marshall Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Marshall comes from an athletic family with deep roots in combat sports and basketball. His father, Maurice Marshall, was a professional boxer who later transitioned to coaching basketball at the elementary school level. This athletic lineage contributed to Marshall’s competitive nature and work ethic. His mother, Rayna Whitted, has worked at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. The family environment fostered a spirit of perseverance and dedication that has characterized Marshall’s approach to basketball.
Personal Life
Marshall grew up primarily in Maryland after moving from Atlantic City at age 9, though he maintained connections to his New Jersey roots through his participation in the Triple-B summer youth league. He has five brothers and one sister, creating a large and supportive family environment. The name Naji, meaning “strong warrior” in Arabic, reflects the legacy of his father’s athletic career and the aspirations his parents held for their son.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024-25 NBA season marked Marshall’s first full campaign with the Dallas Mavericks following his signing in July 2024. The season began with high expectations as he integrated into the Mavericks’ system under the guidance of the coaching staff. Marshall’s early-season form showed promise as he adapted to his new team’s offensive and defensive schemes while carving out a consistent role in the rotation.
The four-game suspension in late December 2024 following the altercation with Nurkić presented an early-season challenge, but Marshall returned focused and continued to develop his game. His performance trajectory continued upward, culminating in the career-high 38-point display against the New York Knicks in March 2025. That game exemplified his offensive growth and ability to carry significant scoring burdens when called upon.
Throughout the season, Marshall demonstrated increased confidence in his perimeter shooting and ability to create his own shot. His partnership with the Mavericks’ coaching staff has allowed him to refine his defensive positioning while maintaining his versatility on offense. The three-year contract he signed in 2024 reflects the organization’s belief in his potential, and his 2025 performances have validated that investment with continued improvement expected as he enters the prime of his career.