In 2024, the Dallas Mavericks made one of the more under-the-radar signings when they got Naji Marshall as part of a project to put Luka Doncic around the best support cast possible. Obviously, the elephant in the room is that Doncic is no longer with Dallas, but fans just got a reminder as to why Marshall should stay.
Zach Buckley from Bleacher Report recently published an article on the top 10 most underrated players in the NBA. Marshall landed at No. 6 on that list, as no surprise. Even though he's not the sexiest 3-point shooter, his game is still so valuable, and his production proves it.
"Spacing concerns are so difficult for modern wings to overcome, and yet Marshall has been entrusted with better than 1,700 minutes in three of the past four seasons. And that's a testament to all of the many non-shooting ways in which he can impact a game."
Naji Marshall was listed as one of the most underrated players in the game
Buckley adds that Marshall has been in the spotlight because of a ton of injuries, but even with Kyrie Irving set to return (hopefully to 100 percent) next season, Marshall is still going to be heavily involved.
"If Cooper Flagg and a healthy Kyrie Irving can help the Mavericks make noise next season, don't be surprised to see a lot of overdue praise come Marshall's way."
Marshall has the golden role of playing as Cooper Flagg's backup, but that shouldn't stop his confidence at all. The former New Orleans Pelicans forward has played some of the best basketball of his NBA career, averaging 15.2 points while shooting 51 percent from the field. He also averaged nearly 30 minutes a game last season, but he should still get a significant role.
Marshall has become a pro at shooting floaters and isn't afraid to put the ball on the floor and make a play near the basket. He's not only averaging the most points in his career, but he's showing as much confidence as he ever has before.
The only weak part is that the forward room is crowded. With Morez Johnson Jr., Santi Aldama and Zaccharie Risacher going to cut into some minutes, there's still a potential for Marshall to be traded. But if anything, this list should be a reminder why he shouldn't go.
The value for Marshall may end up being huge, but is it really worth it to let him go at the peak of his career? We already learned that lesson in February of 2025.
Marshall is Sixth Man of the Year material, and he deserves to not be touched in the 2026-27 season.
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