Last Updated on July 25, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Naji Marshall earned his place in the NBA by doing the little things that help teams win, from defending multiple positions to providing energy on both ends of the floor. His versatility and competitive style make him the kind of player coaches trust in a variety of situations.

Here’s detailed information about Naji Marshall:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Naji Maurice Marshall
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born January 24, 1998
  • Hometown: Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
  • Height: 6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
  • Weight: 220 lb (100 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 ft 0 in (213 cm)
  • Shoe Size: Size 14 (US)
  • Number:
    • #8 (New Orleans Pelicans)
  • Position: Small Forward / Shooting Guard
  • High School:
    • Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Greenbelt, Maryland)
    • Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Virginia)
  • College:
    • Xavier University (2017–2020)
  • NBA Draft:
    • Undrafted in the 2020 NBA Draft; signed as a free agent with the New Orleans Pelicans
  • Teams Played For:
    • New Orleans Pelicans (2020–present)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: None
  • Siblings:
    • Details about siblings are not publicly available.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Naji Marshall’s player archetype is that of a rugged two-way wing: a connective forward who brings defensive toughness, slashing offense, and secondary playmaking without needing a high-usage role. Defensively, he fits as a switchable perimeter stopper who can pressure wings, absorb contact, and bring energy across multiple matchups. Offensively, his role is to attack gaps, push the ball when opportunities open up, make simple reads, and provide complementary scoring rather than serve as a primary creator. Physically, Marshall has strong wing size at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, and that sturdy frame shows up in the way he plays through contact and holds his ground. Overall, his style is aggressive, unflashy, and functional, built on hustle, versatility, straight-line drives, and the kind of all-around edge that helps lineups on both ends. (NBA)

Scouting Report

Naji Marshall brings a certain unpredictability because he doesn’t play like someone trying to fit neatly into one offensive role. One trip down the floor he’s attacking a scrambling closeout with long, awkward strides that somehow keep defenders off balance, then he’s screening for a guard, slipping into open space and making the extra pass before the defence has recovered. What stands out is how comfortable he is playing through contact. He doesn’t rely on a polished isolation package to create separation; instead, he gets a shoulder into defenders, changes pace at the right moment and forces rotations simply by refusing to abandon his driving line. His passing is better than it first appears because he reads the second defender well, particularly when attacking from the wing, often waiting until the low man fully commits before dropping the ball to a cutter or firing it back out to the perimeter. The jump shot can come and go, and that’s the trade-off with his offensive profile. Defenders willing to concede space can sometimes shrink the floor, making him work much harder to create advantages than players who command immediate closeouts. Defensively, though, he gives coaches flexibility. He can switch across multiple perimeter matchups, absorb contact from stronger wings, fight over screens when needed and provide timely nail help without looking as though he’s freelancing outside the scheme. He’s not a defender who hunts steals at every opportunity; he’d rather steer ball handlers toward less comfortable areas and make them finish over length. To me, his ideal fit is on a team that values connective players over possession-dominating scorers, because his game becomes more valuable the more decisions he’s allowed to make in motion rather than from a standstill. There are flashes of Bruce Brown in the willingness to fill different offensive jobs from possession to possession, while parts of his physical driving style resemble James Ennis, particularly the way both use strength and persistence instead of advanced shot creation to manufacture scoring chances. Marshall’s best possessions often don’t begin with the ball in his hands, but they frequently end because he recognised an opening that others never saw developing.

Fun Facts

  • After going undrafted in 2020, he earned a spot on the Pelicans roster and became a valuable rotational player.

Sources:

NBA.com — Dallas Mavericks Team Info and News
NBADraft.net — Naji Marshall
Yahoo Sports — Mavericks Confirm Naji Marshall Out for Hornets Game on Thursday