Dallas Mavericks forward Naji Marshall is aiming to shock the NBA by fixing his biggest weakness: three-point shooting. Speaking at a recent media day, the wing player declared a goal of hitting 45% from beyond the arc this season. This comes as the Mavericks look to build on their last result, a 149-128 victory over the Chicago Bulls on April 13, 2026. Marshall’s confidence follows a career-high 38.7% shooting season with New Orleans in 2023-24, but his accuracy has dipped since joining Dallas.
Naji Marshall stated his ambition clearly. “Nothing but net threes. That’s it, gonna make me unstoppable. I truly believe that. I worked very hard on that,” he told reporters. He later clarified on social media that he “rounded up a lil bit,” but the target remains ambitious. For a player with a career average of 30% from three over six NBA seasons, even a jump to 38% would be major. His two seasons in Dallas have seen him shoot just 28.3% from deep, a clear area for improvement.
Marshall’s game isn't solely about shooting. He found success last year as a slasher, using a floater to score in the paint. But a reliable perimeter shot would force defenders to close out harder, opening driving lanes for himself and his teammates. The Mavericks showed faith in his development by signing him to a three-year, $51.8 million extension this offseason, keeping him under contract through 2029-30.
The Mavericks' offense needs consistent perimeter threats. While the team secured a high-scoring 149-128 win against the Bulls, their recent form shows inconsistency, with a record of 1 win and 4 losses in their last five games. Those losses include a 112-107 defeat to the Phoenix Suns on April 9 and a 123-99 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on April 1. Stretching the floor is non-negotiable in the modern NBA.
Marshall becoming a credible shooter would add a new dimension. It would create more space for star creators to operate. His defensive versatility and slashing are already assets, but unlocking his three-point shot could elevate him from a role player to a core piece. The team’s overall shooting can be tracked on our stats page throughout the season.
Dallas has invested in the right people to facilitate this change. The organization hired renowned shooting coach Rob Fodor for Dusty May’s staff, bringing him over from the Miami Heat. Fodor has a strong track record. He is credited with helping develop Duncan Robinson into one of the league’s elite shooters and also worked with Tim Hardaway Sr.
This specialized coaching could provide Marshall with the technical adjustments and repetitive drills needed to build muscle memory. It’s a targeted resource allocation, showing the franchise’s commitment to player development. Assistant coaches often work behind the scenes, but their impact can be seen on the court over a long season.
The immediate focus is training camp and integrating Marshall’s potential new skills into the team’s schemes. His progress will be watched closely in preseason action. The Mavericks' schedule ahead is challenging, and every perimeter threat counts.
If Marshall can approach his stated goal, it would be a significant boost. The team has shown it can score in bunches, as seen in the 149-point outing against Chicago. But balancing that firepower with defensive effort will define their season. Marshall’s journey from a 30% career shooter to a potential 38%+ marksman is a subplot with major implications for Dallas’s ceiling in a competitive Western Conference.
