Age: 26
NBA experience: Four seasons (four with Pelicans)
Games played/games started: 66/1
Key stats: 7.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 38.7 three-point percentage, 79.1 FT percentage
Pelicans forward Naji Marshall’s 2023-24 NBA season overview
One of the key cogs for a New Orleans bench that ranked second in plus-minus this season (after finishing eighth last season and No. 22 in 2021-22), Marshall provided defense, energy, toughness, hustle and was an improved shooter and offensive player in his fourth season.
“All of these guys all season long, they’ve all contributed to wins and have contributed to this journey,” third-year head coach Willie Green said of his second unit. “They’re important to what we do. It’s refreshing to see the results.” Brandon Ingram on Pelicans subs: “It just feels like they’re always in the right spots at the right time, and they always bring energy. Naji changes the game in a big way on the defensive side, pushing the pace.”
Marshall went undrafted in 2020 partly due to questions about his perimeter shot (29 percent on three-pointers over three seasons at Xavier in Ohio), but he’s begun to answer those as a pro. He hovered over 40 percent for a long stretch of 2023-24, before finishing at 38.7.
“Reps on top of reps on top of reps,” Marshall explained of his improvement. “Hours being in the gym. Getting that confidence, knowing I work on it and just trusting my work when I get on the court. (And) of course my teammates trusting me.”
The Atlantic City (N.J.) native will be an unrestricted free agent July 1. He’s repeatedly expressed gratitude for being in the NBA, including noting of the NOLA bench’s second-ranked status, “just to be a part of that gave me chills.”
“I’m blessed to be here,” he said. “All glory to God. Just to be able to get in an NBA game, and just get a chance, is everything to me.”
Naji Marshall Top Plays | 2023‑24 NBA Season Highlights
Naji Marshall's Pelicans Podcast recap
Pelicans radio color analyst John DeShazier recaps New Orleans Pelicans forward Naji Marshall's 2023-24 NBA season.
Naji Marshall's per-game stats from the 2023-24 NBA season
| GP | GS | MIN | FG% | 3P% | FT% | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naji Marshall | 66 | 1 | 19 | 46.3% | 38.7% | 79.1% | 3.6 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 7.1 |
Photos: Naji Marshall 2023‑24 Season in Review
1 / 25NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 19: Naji Marshall #8 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts after a shot against the Sacramento Kings at Smoothie King Center on April 19, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Naji Marshall by the numbers
28.6
Three-point percentage over his previous three NBA seasons (116 of 406), making him one of the league’s most improved perimeter shooters.
17.6
Percentage of his points that came after opponent turnovers. Among Pelicans players who logged significant minutes, that ranked third (Dyson Daniels 20.6, Herb Jones 20.3).
8
Team-leading buzzer-beating heaves by Marshall at the ends of quarters. Daniels (four) and Larry Nance Jr. (three) were next on the Pelicans.
Naji Marshall’s three most notable games
#1, April 19, New Orleans 105, Sacramento 98
Marshall was arguably the team’s MVP in the victory that sent the Pelicans to the playoffs, bringing aggressive defense and opportunistic offense to a sixth consecutive win over the Kings. He netted 11 points, six rebounds, two steals and a block, relentless hounding Sacramento’s top scorers.
Naji Marshall steals, takes it the distance for dunk | Pelicans-Kings Play-In Highlights 4/19/24
Play-In highlights from New Orleans vs. the Sacramento Kings in their 2024 NBA Play-In Tournament game on Friday, April 19, 2024 as forward Naji Marshall grabs a steal and takes the ball all the way to the rim for the breakaway dunk.
Willie Green recaps win over Sacramento | Pelicans-Kings Play-In Postgame 4/19/2024
New Orleans Pelicans vs. Sacramento Kings NBA Western Conference Play-In Tournament postgame interviews with head coach Willie Green after the Pelicans' 105-98 win over the Kings on Friday, April 19 during the 2023-24 NBA season.
#2, March 8, New Orleans 103, Philadelphia 95
One of the best offensive performances of his career featured near-perfection shooting-wise, at 7/8 from the field and 4/4 on threes. He tacked on a free throw to record a season-high 19 points. The Pelicans were plus-23 with him on the court, but minus-15 without him.
#3, Nov. 14, New Orleans 131, Dallas 110
In just his second game played of the season, Marshall helped the Pelicans bounce back from a one-sided defeat vs. the Mavericks two days earlier. He supplied 16 points on 5/9 shooting, including a banked-in three-pointer from beyond halfcourt, as New Orleans improved to 1-1 in In-Season Tournament pool play.
Naji Marshall’s player participation report
A right knee contusion sidelined Marshall for the regular season’s first nine games, but from there, he was one of the team’s most durable players, appearing in 65 of the next 68 contests. For a second straight season, he was in Green’s rotation whenever he was healthy (played 77 games in 2022-23). The Pelicans were 41-25 when he played this season, but 8-8 when he was a DNP.