'Luka’s My Dawg': Naji Marshall Opens Up About Missing Luka Dončić After Trade

Naji Marshall had only played 17 games alongside Luka Dončić before the Dallas Mavericks decided to trade their franchise superstar to the Los Angeles Lakers. But even in that short span, the connection made a lasting impact.

Speaking recently on The Old Man and the Three podcast, Marshall opened up about how difficult it was to lose Dončić and how quickly he had grown to admire the five-time All-NBA guard.

“I mean, I understood that, like, business is business as far as the NBA, but I was hurt, man,” Marshall said. “Luka’s my dawg, for real. And I love AD. That’s my guy right there. Like, he’s been great with us. You know, he welcomed us with open arms… But as far as just personally, like, I just was hurt to lose Luka, man.”

Even with limited time together, Dončić made an impression on Marshall with how effortlessly he connected with teammates, on and off the court.

“Luka is just the chillest guy ever, bro. You just feel like his best friend from day one,” he continued. “He’s just a great dude. Never mad, just always happy. And just a Hall of Fame flamethrower when it comes to basketball.”

That February deal, which sent Dončić, Markieff Morris, and Maxi Kleber to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a 2029 first-round pick, changed the course of the Mavericks’ season and shifted the franchise’s identity. For Marshall, it also meant the loss of a friend whose leadership he deeply valued.

A Night to Remember in Luka Dončić’s Return

When Dončić made his first return to American Airlines Center on April 9, it was a night filled with emotion. The former Mavericks star broke down in tears during a pregame tribute video, then torched his former team for 45 points, eight rebounds, six assists, and four steals in a 112-97 Lakers win. Marshall, who led Dallas with 23 points and eight assists that night, was among those most struck by the moment.

“It was beautiful,” he said postgame. “Luka means so much to this city and vice versa. Luka moved from his country to America starting in Dallas… and it’s just all love.”

“That’s mad love out there. Anybody would cry — for real, for real,” Marshall added. “I just knew when he came back, he’s just a generational player like that that I know people love to see. I knew it was going to be like this.”

Marshall later spoke about that night on The Old Man and the Three podcast, echoing the same emotional weight and offering more insight into what the moment meant for Dončić.

“First game home… Luka wanted to be in Dallas. He probably never thought he was gonna leave,” Marshall said. “To see him cry before the game — like, I don’t know what he was feeling, but I could just imagine what that moment felt like for him.”

Eyes on the Dallas Mavericks’ Future

While Dončić’s departure was emotional, Marshall has embraced the team’s new direction — one that quickly gained momentum when Dallas shocked the league by jumping 10 spots in the lottery to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. With a 1.8% chance of winning, the Mavericks secured the top selection for the first time in franchise history, setting the stage for a new era.

Marshall, watching live at home, couldn’t contain his excitement.

“I was at my house… I was watching, I forgot it came on,” he recalled on the podcast. “I turn on ESPN, it was on the top five. I seen us across the board, I looked at my man like ‘What?!’ It just kept going down, three, two, one, I started jumping in the air. I couldn’t believe it.”

Now, with the Mavericks expected to draft Duke standout and National Player of the Year Cooper Flagg, Marshall is fully bought in on what’s next. Marshall emerged as one of Dallas’ most consistent contributors, averaging 13.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.0 assists over 69 games last season.

“I love his game, honestly,” he said. “Like, for real… He’s a winner. I love how he hoop… The dog he has. I’m a dog, so that’s what I’m really looking for, and he’s a dog, too. I’m excited, bro. I’m excited to see him grow—become a star in the league.”

Flagg, a skilled two-way forward who averaged 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.4 blocks, and 1.4 steals as a freshman at Duke, is expected to join a Dallas roster headlined by veterans Anthony Davis, P.J. Washington, Klay Thompson, and Kyrie Irving. The presence of proven stars is expected to ease Flagg’s transition into the league while giving the Mavericks a blend of youthful upside.

Coming off the most productive season of his career, Marshall has emerged as a reliable two-way presence on the wing and a leader within the locker room. He is choosing optimism for a player who’s already experienced the volatility of NBA life—from trade shocks to playoff pushes.