Naji Marshall

Naji Marshall was born on January 24, 1998, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, later moving to Maryland at age nine. His early life involved playing both football and basketball, influenced by his father, Maurice Marshall, a former professional boxer and current elementary school basketball coach. Marshall’s high school basketball career included stints at Takoma Academy, Eleanor Roosevelt High School, and Hargrave Military Academy, where he averaged 20.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. He played Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball for DC Premier and was considered a four-star prospect, attracting scholarship offers from various universities before committing to Xavier due to its team culture.

Marshall’s collegiate career at Xavier University saw him make a significant impact. As a freshman, he averaged 7.7 points and 4.4 rebounds per game and earned a spot on the Big East All-Freshman Team. His performance improved in his sophomore year, receiving Big East Player of the Week honors multiple times after scoring 19 points and 14 rebounds against DePaul in December 2018, and a career-high 31 points against St. John’s in February 2019. He was recognized with Second Team All-Big East honors, averaging 14.7 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. In his junior year, he maintained strong performance, tying his career-high of 31 points against Cincinnati in December 2019 and ultimately being named to the First Team All-Big East. He concluded his college career with 1,277 points over three seasons.

Marshall transitioned to his professional career after going undrafted in the 2020 NBA draft. He signed a two-way contract with the New Orleans Pelicans in December 2020, making his NBA debut in January 2021. He secured a multi-year contract with the Pelicans in May 2021, averaging 7.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in his rookie season. In January 2022, he was assigned to the Birmingham Squadron, the Pelicans’ G League affiliate. In July 2024, Marshall signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Dallas Mavericks. He scored a career-high 38 points in March 2025 and was suspended for four games in December 2024 due to an altercation.