If there was a trophy for the best picks of the summer, Naji Marshall would be fairly well ranked. Signed for $27 million over three years, the former Pelicans winger arrived in Dallas to be the defensive specialist coming off the bench. His role: take care of the joker opposite. But what we hadn't necessarily imagined was that Marshall would become a real joker himself. Before the match against Jazz on Saturday evening, he remained in four matches in a row with 20 points or more!
His specialty remains the transition game since he projects very quickly towards the opposing circle, but he also brings external skill as proven by this 10 out of 18 3-pointers over this period of four matches. And if he only scored 3 points last night against Jazz, it was because he was ill, and the staff even encouraged him not to play in the second half. For the moment, he is the only player on the squad to have played every match.
“I think he's taking full advantage of his ability to penetrate the paint and use his floater, and now he's shooting 3-pointers,” likes Jason Kidd about Marshall's play. “He is aware of who is on the pitch with him and he creates shooting opportunities thanks to that. His aggressiveness and his ability to close in the circle are also of a very high level. »
Altruism and defense
All without forgetting to defend, and everyone praises this ability to defend in several positions, and to “switch” on screens. “He can defend from leader to power forward, or even pivot if necessary” notes Quentin Grimes. “He is selfless and he makes our job easier. He covers us in defense, and he defends on his player. We always have someone behind us, and he does it at a high level. »
Same story with Kyrie Irving, very happy to count on him in the absence of Luka Doncic. “I prefer to be his teammate than his opponent. With him on our backs, we are constantly harassed and pushed around. He does a great job sticking to our defensive game plan and doing his best to create opportunities for us on offense. Defensively, he is focused and fights against any opponent, even when a player is having a big night. »
A defense cutter
With almost 12 points on average, Naji Marshall is having the best season of his career, and he does not regret his choice to join the Mavericks. “This team is the most talented I have ever played on,” he confided. “The coaches are great, the management is amazing, and the medical staff is great. I really have no complaints. » And in Dallas, we even found him a nickname: “The Knife”. It’s Irving who explains why.
“I trust him to handle the ball and initiate the attack, which also allows me to rest a little,” concludes the All-Star point guard. “He's 'The Knife,' and he does a lot for us by creating opportunities that we probably wouldn't have if it wasn't for him penetrating and disrupting the defense. »
| Naji Marshall | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2020-21 | NOP | 32 | 22 | 39.2 | 34.9 | 70.7 | 0.5 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 7.7 |
| 2021-22 | NOP | 55 | 13 | 40.5 | 20.0 | 79.6 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 5.7 |
| 2022-23 | NOP | 77 | 23 | 43.3 | 30.3 | 78.9 | 0.6 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 9.1 |
| 2023-24 | NOP | 66 | 19 | 46.3 | 38.7 | 79.1 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 3.6 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 7.1 |
| 2024-25 | DAL | 19 | 25 | 55.4 | 29.2 | 88.2 | 1.2 | 2.3 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 12.0 |
| Total | 249 | 20 | 44.2 | 31.1 | 78.4 | 0.7 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 7.8 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
