MACAO — Naji Marshall is in China for the first time, and his father made the trip with him as the Dallas Mavericks prepare to open the preseason against the Houston Rockets at The Venetian Arena on Friday.
Marshall talked after Tuesday’s practice, about a day after the team arrived in Macao. He brought his camera on the trip, and the mood around the team has been a happy one.
“I love China. I love the scenery. I’m a big scenery guy, I got my camera with me. So I love the scenery,” Marshall said. “Everybody’s happy too. Everybody’s in a good spirit, so I’m just happy to be here.”
On Aug. 2, Dallas signed Marshall to a three-year, $52.2 million extension that is fully guaranteed through the 2029-30 season. He switched to No. 3 for this season. Marshall set career highs last season with 15.2 points, 3.3 assists, and 29.5 minutes per game, and he also averaged 4.7 rebounds.
Naji Marshall On Camp Under Dusty May
Dallas hired Mavericks coach Dusty May from Michigan on June 23, after he won the 2026 national championship there. Dallas opened camp Sept. 26, three days before the league-wide start, because of the trip. Marshall can’t say whether the feel in camp comes from May’s staff or from a fresh start, but practice is where he feels good about himself, whatever the rest of his day looks like.
“I don’t know if it’s Dusty and his new crew or just a fresh start. I don’t know. I’m not sure what it is, but I’m loving it,” Marshall said. “I appreciate all the fellas for just bringing that good energy. No matter what I’m going throughout the day, when I come to practice, I just, I feel good about myself. So looking forward to the season and just looking forward to the rest of China.”
Last season, Dallas finished 26-56 and missed the playoffs. Getting back there is what Marshall wants out of this group, with Kyrie Irving cleared to play in Macao after missing all of 2025-26 with a torn left ACL.
“I think the team’s focused on playing Mavericks basketball. Just getting back into the winning column, getting back into the playoffs and Kai’s back, Coop’s back,” Marshall explained. “We got the full team healthy so I think we just focus on ourselves though.”
Reigning Rookie of the Year Cooper Flagg enters his second season. Dereck Lively II has not played since December, when he had season-ending surgery on his right foot. Last week, May called the Macao games a fact-finding mission and said winning will not be the primary objective.
Naji Marshall Sharing China With His Father
Marshall isn’t in Macao for any one food or sight. His guys made the trip, and so did his father.
“I’m really just here for an experience. I got my guys here with me, my dad’s here with me, so looking just to experience China with him,” Marshall said. “Both from a place far, far away from here, so this experience together is pretty fun.”
Marshall was born in Atlantic City, N.J., and moved to Maryland at age 9. His father, Maurice Marshall, boxed professionally. Marshall went undrafted out of Xavier in 2020 and played four seasons with New Orleans before signing with Dallas in July 2024.
Daniel Gafford is also making his first trip to China and said before the team left that he planned to find a ramen spot.
Dallas and Houston meet Friday at 6:30 a.m. CT and Sunday at 4:30 a.m. CT, with both games airing on NBA TV. The Mavericks open the regular season Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT in Houston.
