Naji Marshall

Marshall is an American forward who built an NBA career as a versatile wing and defensive contributor after going undrafted in 2020. A productive scorer and playmaker at Xavier, he found a professional role with the New Orleans Pelicans before moving to the Dallas Mavericks as a free agent.

Born Naji Maurice Marshall on January 24, 1998, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, he moved to Maryland at age nine. He is the son of Maurice Marshall, a former professional boxer, and Rayna Whitted. His name means strong warrior in Arabic and was a nickname of his father's. He grew up playing football and basketball and attended Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Maryland. As a senior, he averaged 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals and led Eleanor Roosevelt to a 23-3 record. He attended Hargrave Military Academy as a postgraduate, averaging 20.7 points and 11.4 rebounds. He committed to Xavier over Pittsburgh, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech.

At Xavier, Marshall averaged 7.7 points and 4.4 rebounds as a freshman and was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team. As a sophomore, he averaged 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists and was named to the Second Team All-Big East. He scored a career-high 31 points against St. John's on February 28, 2019. After the season, he declared for the 2019 NBA draft but withdrew and returned to Xavier. As a junior, he was named to the preseason First Team All-Big East.

After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Marshall signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. He spent four seasons in New Orleans, gradually earning a rotation spot as a defensive-minded wing who could score, pass, and guard multiple positions. In 2024, he signed with the Dallas Mavericks as a free agent.

Marshall is a versatile forward with playmaking ability, defensive toughness, and scoring instincts. He handles the ball in transition, makes timely cuts, and defends with physicality. His size and skill set allow him to function as a secondary creator and a wing stopper. He fits best as a complementary piece who provides energy, defense, and offensive versatility.