DHJ Quick Take
- Business of Basketball: Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd acknowledged that while the playoffs are out of reach, several players are using the final weeks to play for contract extensions.
- The Naji Example: Kidd specifically highlighted Naji Marshall as a player “doing the right thing,” punctuated by Marshall’s 19-point, 5-steal performance against the Portland Trail Blazers.
- Statistical Leap: Since joining Dallas, Marshall has nearly doubled his scoring output from his time with the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging a career-high 15.4 points this season.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Dallas Mavericks are 24-50 with eight games left. Following its recent elimination from postseason eligibility, the team has focused on making the most of the final weeks of the season and looking ahead.
Jason Kidd addressed it directly Friday night after the Mavericks’ 100-93 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. With the standings long settled, he said the end of the season has taken on a different kind of weight.
“I think individuals look at the season differently than the team record,” Kidd said. “There are quite a few guys playing for extensions, so the business side kicks in. That puts the organization in a position to evaluate with all the changes.”
Jason Kidd Evaluates Naji Marshall for a Dallas Mavericks Extension
When bringing up an example of that individual growth, Kidd leaned on Naji Marshall. The 28-year-old is playing out his sixth NBA campaign on the second season of a three-year, $27 million contract signed in July 2024. He is signed through the 2026-27 season, earning $9 million this season and over $9.4 million next season.
“Using Naji as an example, he’s doing the right thing, and we have quite a few guys doing that,” Kidd said.
The public endorsement landed on a night Marshall backed it up completely. He scored 19 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, and recorded 5 steals while drawing the defensive assignment on Deni Avdija in the win. He handled a key role offensively while setting the tone for the defense on a night they gave up 93 points.
“I thought Naji did an incredible job there on Deni, making sure that he didn’t get anything easy,” Kidd said. “He had to work for everything. The guys executed the game plan defensively.”
Marshall is eligible to sign an extension in July 2026. Using the standard veteran exception rule — 140% of current salary — he would be eligible to sign for up to a four-year, $56.8 million deal. Since Dallas will hold Marshall’s Early Bird rights, he is eligible for up to an 8% annual raise. The first year of a deal could be $12.6 million, rising to $15.9 million by the end of a four-year deal.
If Marshall were to wait until July 2027, the Mavericks would gain his Full Bird rights and be eligible to sign him for up to five years. Following that path, he’d be eligible to sign for a total of $73.9 million. He would qualify to earn up to 25% of the annual salary cap if he were to play it all the way through and reach free agency without an extension in place. However, no other team could offer him a fifth year on a deal.
Analyzing Naji Marshall’s Statistical Growth Since Joining the Dallas Mavericks
It was not an isolated night. Marshall has been one of the most consistent performers on a Mavericks roster that has dealt with injuries and losing streaks all season. Marshall’s statistical explosion is even more impressive considering the defensive attention he now commands. With Kyrie Irving sidelined as he continues his recovery from ACL surgery and the Mavericks transitioning into a new era following the Anthony Davis trade, Marshall has stepped up. While rookie sensation Cooper Flagg naturally draws the lion’s share of defensive schemes, Marshall handled being a focus of scouting reports well.
In four seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, he averaged 7.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 19.5 minutes per game. Since joining Dallas two seasons ago, those numbers have jumped to 14.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. This season, he is averaging 15.5 points while shooting 51.6% from the field in 71 games — nearly double his scoring output from New Orleans on similar efficiency. He’s adding 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.1 steals in 29.7 minutes per game.
Despite being a focal point for opposing defenses, Marshall has thrived. He has become increasingly relied upon as a ball-handler, particularly in positionless starting lineups where he is leaned on to initiate the offense. He has found a masterful balance between attacking downhill to hunt his own shot and “reading the game” to involve his teammates, whether by directing them early in the possession or executing a precise spray-out pass mid-drive.
“Just reading the game a little bit more,” Marshall told Dallas Hoops Journal. “Reading the whole floor, both hands on the floor, getting my team runs involved, and just knowing how to attack matchups and different types of defensive schemes. I’m just learning the game.”
The most staggering aspect of Marshall’s season is his emergence as one of the league’s most efficient and versatile slashers. Among all NBA players averaging at least 8 drives per game, Marshall’s ability to generate points and playmake puts him in elite territory. While his 6.6 points per game on drives provides a steady offensive floor, it is his efficiency and foul-drawing ability that jump off the page.
Marshall’s 54.6% field goal percentage on drives ranks higher than several high-level scorers, including Zion Williamson (54.4%), Jamal Murray (54.0%), and Jaylen Brown (53.9%). An area where Marshall has been elite at is drawing fouls. As a physical attacker, he’s drawing a foul on 10.6% of his drives. This aggression has played a key role in his free-throw attempts jump to 4.1 per game, more than double his output from his final year in New Orleans.
The data confirms the “reading” is working. Marshall is currently producing a “Very Good” 1.44 Points Per Shot (PPS) as a Pick-and-Roll ball-handler. Central to this efficiency is his mastery of the “short game.” Marshall currently ranks third in the NBA in total points scored via the runner (floater), trailing only All-Stars Donovan Mitchell and Jalen Brunson. Proving his “Point Forward” evolution, Marshall passes on 25.6% of his drives. This leads to 0.5 assists per game specifically from drive-and-kick situations, a vital component of the Mavericks’ offensive spacing.
When Marshall gets two feet in the paint, his right-hand floater has become a lethal, automatic weapon, regardless of the defensive contest. He is currently shooting an “Excellent” 58.9% on these short-range attempts, generating a high-level 1.215 PPS in those high-traffic areas. This combination of an elite floater and a 63.1% finishing rate at the rim has made him a matchup nightmare.
“I think I’ve just figured out how to get to my spots better,” Marshall told Dallas Hoops Journal. “I’m real comfortable in new spots. I put a lot of work in and just feel really comfortable getting downhill.”
Naji Marshall Credits Repetition and Versatility for Defensive Success
The versatility has been equally valuable. Kidd has deployed Marshall in a variety of roles. There have been times when Marshall starts in the backcourt while the Mavericks go with a bigger group. Other times, he’s been leaned on to bring the physicality to a smaller lineup. Through it all, he’s handled the ball more while finding his windows to attack, while still being a defensive player.
“I just love the game, and I’m a student of the game, so I understand it from a different level,” Marshall told Dallas Hoops Journal. “I’ve played many different positions.”
On the defensive end, where Kidd has praised him repeatedly this season, Marshall credits repetition above all else. While he originally made his name as a defensive stopper during his tenure in New Orleans, his role in Dallas has expanded into a far greater offensive responsibility.
“Just reps, just being out there, playing more minutes,” Marshall told Dallas Hoops Journal. “I’m just learning as I go.”
Despite playing career-high minutes and being tasked with initiating the offense in positionless lineups, Marshall’s commitment to his conditioning has allowed him to handle the increased workload without a drop-off in defensive intensity.
“I think a lot of people, when they get tired, they don’t think as much—they turn their brain off and stuff,” Marshall said earlier this season. “My conditioning… is really helping me just stay locked in the game.”
Cooper Flagg Praises Naji Marshall’s Leadership and Clutch Performance
The veteran’s impact has resonated with the Mavericks’ younger core. Cooper Flagg, who has shared the floor with Marshall extensively during his rookie campaign, noted that Marshall’s intensity doesn’t waver regardless of the score. There have been plenty of nights when both Flagg and Marshall have it going offensively, showing the potential to be a tandem of downhill scorers to rely on.
“Naji is always living up to the moment,” Flagg said earlier this season. “The more intense it gets, the more intense he gets. He’s been a great motor for us throughout this year. He always steps up and makes big-time plays.”
Kidd was direct on Friday about what all of it means in practical terms heading into the offseason. Marshall has checked a lot of boxes that a team would like to see going into an offseason that includes eligibility to sign a long-term contract extension. Additionally, he commanded trade interest from rival teams, but Dallas wanted to keep him. Now, the front office — whoever runs it — has a chance to secure him.
“Individually, you look at whether you improved, and whether that leads to an extension,” Kidd said. “Then from a team standpoint, it’s about roster construction and consistency with lineups and rotations.”
The Mavericks return home to face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. CT at American Airlines Center.
More Dallas Mavericks Coverage From Dallas Hoops Journal
- Dallas Mavericks Coach Jason Kidd Calls Cooper Flagg The ‘Clear-Cut’ NBA Rookie Of The Year
- ‘Big Win On The Road’: Dallas Mavericks Snap Five‑Game Skid Behind Marvin Bagley III’s 26 In 100–93 Win Over Portland Trail Blazers
- ‘I Can Learn A Lot From Him’: Cooper Flagg Reacts To Nikola Jokić’s Historic Game Against Dallas Mavericks
- Cooper Flagg Passes Kevin Durant And Luka Dončić With Eighth Career 30-Point Game
- ‘I’ve Learned A Lot’: Khris Middleton Is Helping Cooper Flagg Grow As A Professional Scorer
- Cooper Flagg Passes Luka Dončić For Second‑Most 15‑5‑5 Games By A Teenager In NBA History
- ‘I Like Making The Right Play’: Cooper Flagg Shows Decision‑Making Beyond His Years As NBA’s Youngest Player
