Ever since the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers on February 1, many things that anyone says (or doesn't say) about the Mavs or Doncic get blown out of proportion. Mavericks fans and NBA fans alike are still sensitive to the move that sent Doncic to the Lakers, as no one expected it, and any quote about the Mavs or Doncic often gets turned into a major story when it doesn't need to be.
Naji Marshall has caught heat from fans and media for not including Doncic in his all-time starting five, as he listed Jason Kidd, Kyrie Irving, Michael Finley, Dirk Nowitzki, and Tyson Chandler as his dream starting unit after a SwinCity League Pro-Am game between Cook Up and Run DFW.
The Smoking Cuban was one of the media outlets in attendance for Marshall's SwinCity debut, and rather than NBA fans and media being excited about Marshall listing four players who are still currently involved with the Mavericks and one teammate, he has been accused of throwing "shade" at Doncic for this list by Heavy Sports' Sai Mohan.
This wasn't a diss — and Luka Doncic would probably agree with that
Mohan dove into how Doncic should have been on his list for his accolades and stats alone, which is true as Doncic is an all-time great Maverick, but it isn't that deep.
Marshall was just looking to show love to members of the Mavericks organization who are still around, and his lineup was not meant to put Doncic down by any means. Four of the five people on his starting five are people that he likely sees on a daily basis during the regular season, as Kidd is his head coach, Irving is his teammate, Finley is the assistant general manager, and Chandler helps out as a player development coach with the bigs.
Even Nowitzki is someone who the organization would love to have around, as he holds the title of special advisor, but he hasn't been around as much over the last few years due to some displeasure about organizational decisions. Marshall was just trying to give credit to people that he is likely close with within the organization, and trying to suggest that he was in the wrong for that is a complete misunderstanding.
SwinCity is all about shining a light on Dallas basketball, and that's all that Marshall was trying to do, as he was the first Maverick to ever play in a SwinCity game, league owner Tony Swindle told The Smoking Cuban. He had just finished a game with several other pro players who have Dallas roots, including former Maverick Jazian Gortman, and he was just showing some love and appreciation to people who he likely holds close to his heart in his new home.
Marshall and Doncic were close as Mavericks teammates, and Marshall was always one of the first people to stand up for Doncic, on and off the floor. Whether it was Marshall complimenting Doncic's defense while he was being heavily criticized from the outside or protecting him on the floor, it was clear that they shared a bond, and Marshall went out of his way to praise Doncic multiple times during their time as teammates.
"Just a genuine one," Marshall said when asked about his bond with Doncic in November of last year. "Good dude, amazing player, on and off the court he’s a great dude. Just a genuine bond, nothing forced. I love him man, especially when he’s out there on that court."
Marshall cared for Doncic on and off the court, and suggesting that he was dissing Doncic by not including him on his all-time Mavericks starting five is a major stretch. If he had included Doncic, that likely would have made headlines as well, as people would have likely turned that into Marshall wanting Doncic back on the Mavs.
Marshall was simply just having fun with the few reporters that were in the outskirts of the North Dallas High School gym while giving credit to some former players who make Dallas basketball special.
