“Very complete player”- Luka Doncic heaps praise on Mavs’ $27M addition after another solid outing
The Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic are coming into the NBA season with high expectations after winning the Western Conference last season. Led by their Slovenian superstar, the Mavs are in search of their first championship since 2011, and the organization brought in some key pieces over the offseason. One player in particular has caught Doncic's eye.
The Mavericks signed Naji Marshall to a three-year, $27 million contract in July and it is already looking like a shrewd investment. The 6-foot-6 small forward is off to a flying start and has been impactful over his first six games. Following the Mavs victory over the Orlando Magic on Sunday, Luka Doncic discussed Marshall's strengths and was full of praise for the talented forward.
"I love his game. I've always liked him, even when he was in New Orleans. He's a very complete player—he can guard, bring the ball up, shoot, and drive. He's adjusting to a new team and will keep getting better," said Doncic.
Marshall has yet to start a game and is averaging just 18.5 minutes per outing, but he has been extremely efficient when called upon. The 26-year-old has contributed on both the offensive and defensive front, and the tempo and intensity with which he plays the game has carried over to his teammates.
Over six games, Marshall is averaging 3.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.0 steals per outing.
Marshall was a standout player at Xavier where he was selected to the First-Team All-Big East in 2020. He spent the last four seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans but struggled to cement a place in the starting lineup, starting just 36 of the 230 games he featured in for the organization.
The Dallas Mavericks retained the core of their 2023-24 Western Conference championship roster with Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and P.J. Washington all returning. The addition of All-Star Klay Thompson makes this one of the most potent offensive lineups in the West.
Luka Doncic finished third in MVP voting last season
At just 24 years old, Luka Doncic has developed into one of the league's elite players. His ability to consistently put big numbers night after night is impressive, and many experts consider him to be one of the best offensive players in the NBA.
Last season, Doncic finished third in the MVP voting behind only Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Mavericks sharpshooter led the NBA with a whopping 33.9 points per game and 48.7% from the field. He ranked second in the league with 9.8 assists per game.
This season, Doncic is once again off to a strong start. Over six games, Doncic is averaging 28 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 6.2 apg.