Naji Marshall Bio
Naji Maurice Marshall is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays as a forward and is recognized for his rebounding, defense, and steadily improving offensive game. Born and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Marshall built his reputation in college at Xavier before working his way into a steady NBA role.
Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing around 220 pounds, Marshall uses his frame to guard multiple positions and attack the basket. After going undrafted in 2020, he signed with the New Orleans Pelicans and later joined the Dallas Mavericks in 2024, where he continues to develop into a reliable rotation player.
Early Life and Background
Naji Maurice Marshall was born on January 24, 1998, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. His first name, Naji, means “strong warrior” in Arabic and was also a nickname used by his father. Marshall is the son of Maurice Marshall, a former professional boxer who now coaches basketball at an elementary school, and Rayna Whitted, who works at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. He grew up alongside five brothers and one sister, and he spent his childhood playing both football and basketball.
Marshall moved from Atlantic City to Maryland at the age of nine and developed his love for the game in Atlantic City’s Triple-B summer youth league. In middle school he began to focus more seriously on basketball, setting the stage for his high school career. His family supported his athletic ambitions, and his father’s background as a boxer helped shape Marshall’s toughness and competitive mindset.
Marshall attended several schools during his high school years, including Takoma Academy and Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Maryland, before finishing his prep career at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia. At Eleanor Roosevelt he played under coach Brendan O’Connell and, as a senior, averaged 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists and two steals per game. He led the Raiders to a 23–3 record and scored 27 points in a Maryland 4A state semifinal win over Perry Hall High School, then chose Hargrave Military Academy as a postgraduate year to strengthen his academics and his game.
Path to Basketball
Marshall averaged 20.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game during his time at Hargrave Military Academy, where he also competed for DC Premier on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit. Recruiting outlets regarded him as a four-star prospect, and ESPN ranked him as the 20th best small forward in his class. He received scholarship offers from Pittsburgh, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech, but committed to Xavier because he felt at home with the program’s culture.
Marshall arrived at Xavier ready to contribute immediately. In his collegiate opener against Morehead State he posted 12 points and four rebounds, and he later scored a season-high 21 points in a win over Georgetown. By the end of his freshman year he had been named to the Big East All-Freshman Team after averaging 7.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while making 18 starts.
Across three seasons with the Xavier Musketeers, Marshall grew into one of the top players in the Big East Conference. He was named Second-team All-Big East as a sophomore and First-team All-Big East as a junior, while also being placed on the watchlist for the Julius Erving Award. He finished his Xavier career with 1,277 points and developed the all-around game that would eventually earn him an NBA opportunity.
Naji Marshall Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
After declaring for the 2020 NBA draft and signing with an agent, Marshall went unselected. On December 8, 2020, he signed a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans and their NBA G League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks. He made his NBA debut on January 15, 2021, against the Los Angeles Lakers, and began earning consistent rotation minutes in April as injuries opened up playing time.
On May 7, 2021, the Pelicans converted Marshall’s two-way deal into a multi-year contract, signaling their confidence in his development. In his rookie season, Marshall averaged 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while shooting 39.2 percent from the field. His energy on the glass and willingness to defend multiple positions helped him carve out a role in New Orleans.
New Orleans Pelicans Breakthrough (2021–2024)
Marshall settled into a regular rotation spot with the Pelicans over the next three seasons, serving as a versatile wing who could rebound, defend, and attack the rim. In January 2022, he was assigned alongside Trey Murphy III to the Birmingham Squadron, the Pelicans’ G League affiliate, in order to log additional developmental minutes. He continued to show steady improvement on both ends of the floor.
By the end of his Pelicans tenure, Marshall had earned a reputation as a hard-nosed role player who could guard multiple positions and finish through contact. His ability to absorb contact, crash the offensive glass, and knock down open shots made him a valuable piece of the New Orleans rotation. He remained with the Pelicans through the 2023–24 season before entering free agency.
Dallas Mavericks Era (2024–Present)
On July 6, 2024, Marshall signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks, marking a fresh chapter in his career. He joined a contending roster looking to add depth, defense, and physicality on the wing. The move gave Marshall an opportunity to contribute on a team with postseason expectations.
Marshall’s first season in Dallas included both challenges and milestones. On December 28, 2024, he was suspended for four games following an on-court altercation with Jusuf Nurkić. He responded with one of the best performances of his career on March 25, 2025, scoring a career-high 38 points to go along with seven rebounds in a 128–113 loss to the New York Knicks.
Driving Style and Strengths
Marshall is known for his physical, aggressive style of play. He uses his 6-foot-6 frame to defend multiple positions, rebound at a high rate for his position, and absorb contact when attacking the rim. Coaches have valued his willingness to do the dirty work, while his improving perimeter shot has made him a more complete offensive player.
Notable Events and Milestones
Marshall’s NBA journey has included several signature moments, from his debut with the Pelicans against the Los Angeles Lakers to his career-high 38-point outburst with the Mavericks. His conversion from a two-way contract to a multi-year deal in 2021 stands as a major milestone, as does his three-year, $27 million agreement with Dallas in 2024.
Naji Marshall Career Wins
Marshall has not yet won an individual NBA award, but his career has been marked by steady progression and recognition at every level. He earned Big East All-Freshman Team honors in 2018, Second-team All-Big East recognition in 2019, and First-team All-Big East distinction in 2020 at Xavier. His transition from undrafted rookie to multi-year NBA contract reflects his persistence and work ethic.
NBA Highlights
Across his time with the New Orleans Pelicans and Dallas Mavericks, Marshall has built a reputation as a reliable rotation forward. He opened his NBA career with a debut against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 15, 2021, and later signed a multi-year deal with the Pelicans in May 2021. With the Mavericks, he set a new career high by scoring 38 points against the New York Knicks on March 25, 2025.
Other Wins & Performances
Marshall’s prep career featured standout moments, including a 27-point performance that sent Eleanor Roosevelt to the Maryland 4A state semifinals. At Hargrave Military Academy he averaged a double-double with 20.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game, while at Xavier he delivered multiple game-winning efforts, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer at Georgetown in 2020.
Naji Marshall Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Marshall comes from a close-knit and athletic family. His father, Maurice Marshall, was a professional boxer and now coaches basketball at an elementary school, while his mother, Rayna Whitted, works at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. Marshall grew up with five brothers and one sister, and the family’s competitive environment helped shape his work ethic. His first name, which means “strong warrior” in Arabic, reflects his father’s boxing roots.
Personal Life
Marshall keeps much of his personal life private. He was born and raised in Atlantic City, New Jersey, before moving to Maryland at age nine, and he has continued to focus on his basketball career. His journey from an undrafted rookie to a multi-year NBA contract speaks to the discipline instilled by his family.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 NBA season has marked Marshall’s first full year with the Dallas Mavericks following his three-year, $27 million agreement in July 2024. He has continued to provide energy, defense, and rebounding off the bench, helping the Mavericks remain competitive in a tough Western Conference. His role has expanded as the season has progressed.
Marshall’s standout moment of the season came on March 25, 2025, when he erupted for a career-high 38 points and seven rebounds against the New York Knicks. The performance signaled his growing confidence and comfort within the Mavericks’ system, even as Dallas dropped the contest 128–113. He has also provided physicality and toughness, traits that have defined his career.
Looking ahead, Marshall is expected to remain a key rotation piece for Dallas as the team pushes toward the playoffs. His current contract runs through the 2026–27 season, giving him long-term stability and an opportunity to further expand his role. With his combination of defense, rebounding, and an improving offensive game, Marshall’s 2025 trajectory points toward continued growth.