Good news for fans of the Dallas Mavericks and fantasy basketball players alike: Naji Marshall has been named a starter by the Mavericks for Friday’s game. This is his first start of the season, which opens up some interesting possibilities both for his career trajectory and for fantasy lineups.
Why Is Marshall Starting?
There are clear reasons for this change:
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The Mavericks are missing key forwards: P.J. Washington is out with a shoulder injury.
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Anthony Davis is sidelined with a calf issue.
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With both unavailable, Marshall is stepping into the starting lineup to fill that forward/wing slot.
In his last four games off the bench, Marshall has averaged 16.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals in about 26.8 minutes.
That shows he’s been productive and now has the opportunity to take it further.
What This Means for His Role
With this promotion to the starting unit, several implications follow:
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More minutes and touches: As a starter, Marshall is likely to play more minutes, get more offensive reps and be more involved in the flow of the game.
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Elevated responsibility: With top players missing, he’ll have to contribute more across multiple categories — scoring, rebounding, defense.
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Fantasy impact: For fantasy basketball players, Marshall’s upside increases. He becomes more of a “start” option rather than a bench flier.
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Team dynamics: The Mavericks will be testing their depth. How Marshall adapts could signal how ready their bench/role players are when full strength isn’t available.
Things to Watch
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Consistency: Starting is one thing, but can Marshall maintain production over a stretch rather than just in short spurts?
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Matchup vs. Los Angeles Clippers (Friday’s opponent): How will Marshall perform against the Clippers’ defense? Are there mismatches he can exploit?
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Minutes distribution: Even as a starter, if the Mavericks mix in veterans when healthy, his minutes could fluctuate.
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Rebound and assist contributions: Points are being produced. If he can sustain or improve on rebounds & assists, his value goes up significantly.
Final Thoughts
For the Mavericks, this is a meaningful adjustment: inserting Marshall into the starting lineup signals trust and necessity. For Marshall himself, it’s an opportunity — to show he can deliver as a starter, not just as a bench contributor. For fantasy managers, it’s a heads-up: if you’ve been holding him, this is your moment to consider his elevated role.
In plain terms: watch Marshall. If he performs well in this new role, he could become a regular starter and a valuable asset for the season.