Mavericks' fan-favorite wing begs for shocking change that fans must make now

Since landing the No. 1 overall pick, the buzz surrounding the Dallas Mavericks has completely flipped after multiple weeks of turmoil due to the Luka Doncic trade and numerous injuries to star players. While Summer League has ended for the Mavericks, Cooper Flagg's second game also added hype to what will become a new era for the Mavericks.

With Flagg's emergence, ushering in a new era of Mavericks basketball in Dallas, Naji Marshall emerged as a valuable piece last season after multiple injuries to star players increased his role, and all signs point to Marshall once again playing a significant role on the Mavs next season. Marshall has, without a doubt, become a fan-favorite due to his antics and ability to play multiple positions, but his beloved nickname might be in jeopardy.

Marshall tagged the nickname "The Knife," which became synonymous amongst fans and even became an all-time favorite nickname amongst Mavericks players, despite only playing one season with the team. Although the name is popular, Marshall recently told the media that he wishes to change his nickname, which came as a major shock to fans of his and the Mavericks.

Naji Marshall aims to find a new nickname before regular season tips off

There is no doubt the Mavericks' offseason has been full of quite surprises that included almost a complete overhaul of Jason Kidd's coaching staff, and the addition of Flagg and D'Angelo Russell. While these transactions have been on every fan's mind, Marshall's recent comments about changing his nickname could quickly become the talk of the offseason.

After taking an interview with the media a few days ago, Marshall expressed interest in finding a new nickname and even suggested that he would leave the options to social media for fans to decide.

While Marshall has coined "The Knife" and is even known around the league by some fans as his nickname, changing it may not be a bad option. This summer, Marshall has hyped what could possibly become a career-best season in Dallas, and with a new era shuffling in for the Mavericks, Marshall's identity could change as well, which makes perfect sense.

Marshall has yet to put a poll on social media about what nickname he should roll with, but once the influx of basketball news begins to die down, this is a story that could quickly grab the attention of Mavericks fans.

Last season, Marshall became a polarizing figure for the Mavericks due to his ability to play multiple positions and also do what was asked of him in the moment. For large chunks of the season, Marshal became one of Dallas' primary ball-handlers and even flashed the potential of becoming a point forward when the moment is right.

Almost more impressively, Marshall also developed an impressive floater shot, which he would often use when driving into the paint. Marshall's floater was a small story to come out of last season, but it, without a doubt, became a deadly weapon opposing teams had to keep their eyes on.

Now, heading into next season, Marshall is poised for a huge year off the bench if he continues to develop his skills that made him one of the Mavericks' star players last season. Not only will Marshall be focusing on his skills, but also on what nickname will lead the charge in a new era in his career, but also a new era in Mavericks history.