Naji Maurice Marshall Bio
Naji Maurice Marshall is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Xavier Musketeers. Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Marshall has made a name for himself since his early basketball career and is admired for his skills on the court.
Early Life and Background
Naji Maurice Marshall was born on January 24, 1998, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He moved to Maryland at the age of nine. He is the son of Maurice Marshall, a former professional boxer and current basketball coach, and Rayna Whitted, who works at Providence Hospital in Washington, D.C. Marshall has five brothers and one sister and grew up playing both football and basketball. He began his basketball journey in middle school, participating in Atlantic City’s Triple-B summer youth league. Marshall played his first season of high school basketball at Takoma Academy. He later transferred to Eleanor Roosevelt High School, where he played under coach Brendan O’Connell. Despite being academically ineligible during his first year, he excelled in his senior year, averaging 17 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals per game. He led his team to a 23–3 record and scored 27 points in a crucial game during the Maryland 4A state semifinals. To improve his academics, he attended Hargrave Military Academy as a postgraduate student, where he averaged 20.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. He also competed for DC Premier on the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) circuit.
Path to Basketball
Naji Marshall received scholarship offers from several colleges, including Pittsburgh, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech, but ultimately chose to play for Xavier University due to its appealing culture. He was regarded as a four-star prospect and ranked as the 20th best small forward by ESPN in his class. Marshall made an immediate impact in his freshman year at Xavier, contributing 12 points and four rebounds in his debut against Morehead State. He was named to the Big East All-Freshman Team after averaging 7.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. In his sophomore season, Marshall continued to improve, earning his first Big East Player of the Week honors after a standout performance against DePaul. He scored a career-high 31 points in a game against St. John’s and was named to the Second Team All-Big East. By the end of his junior year, he had declared for the 2020 NBA draft after scoring 1,277 points over three seasons at Xavier.
Naji Maurice Marshall Career
Early Career (2020–2024)
After going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft, Naji Marshall signed a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans and their G League affiliate, the Erie BayHawks, on December 8, 2020. He made his NBA debut on January 15, 2021, against the Los Angeles Lakers. Due to injuries on the team, he began to receive more playing time in April of that year. On May 7, 2021, the Pelicans signed him to a multi-year contract. In his rookie season, Marshall averaged 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. In January 2022, he was assigned to the Birmingham Squadron, the Pelicans’ G League affiliate, alongside teammate Trey Murphy III.
Breakthrough (2024–Present)
On July 6, 2024, Naji Marshall signed a three-year contract worth $27 million with the Dallas Mavericks. His tenure with the Mavericks began with high expectations, and he quickly made a name for himself on the team. On March 25, 2025, he achieved a career-high of 38 points in a game against the New York Knicks. However, his season was marred by a suspension on December 28, 2024, for four games due to an altercation with Jusuf Nurkić.
Notable Works and Milestones
Naji Marshall’s notable achievements include being named First-team All-Big East in 2020, Second-team All-Big East in 2019, and being part of the Big East All-Freshman Team in 2018. His career continues to develop as he plays for the Dallas Mavericks, showcasing his skills and potential on the court.
Naji Maurice Marshall Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Naji Marshall has received several nominations and accolades, particularly during his college years, where he was recognized for his outstanding performances in the Big East Conference.
Naji Maurice Marshall Awards Won
Naji Marshall has won multiple awards during his college basketball career, including First-team All-Big East in 2020, Second-team All-Big East in 2019, and being named to the Big East All-Freshman Team in 2018.
Naji Maurice Marshall Family
Naji Marshall is the son of Maurice Marshall and Rayna Whitted. He has five brothers and one sister, contributing to a large and supportive family background.
Personal Life
Details about Naji Marshall’s personal life are limited, as he tends to keep his private life away from the public eye. He is currently focused on his basketball career with the Dallas Mavericks.
