Naji Marshall’s powerful message proves Luka Doncic's critics couldn't be more wrong

Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic is no stranger to criticism.

He is easily one of the most criticized stars in the NBA, and even when he is playing at a high level, fans and media alike try to find ways to bring him down. Even with Doncic missing the past few games with a wrist injury, he has been getting some stray shots thrown his way.

The narrative that Dallas was playing better without Doncic was present during his brief knee injury and the backlash on Doncic when it comes to his effect on winning stretches back multiple years. A report last season from Howard Beck claimed that some of Doncic's teammates would be relieved when he checked out of the game, allowing them to play their game, and questions about his heliocentric playstyle quickly followed.

Marshall missing Doncic highlights truth about his impact on teammates

Despite all of the outside noise from the past about Doncic, a recent message from Naji Marshall proves that old-age take is as good as gone. Marshall has been a dream come true for Dallas ever since he got acclimated to his new role, and fans are going to love him even more when diving into how he treats his teammates, especially Doncic.

"We waiting on u 77," was Marshall's message to Doncic amid his brief hiatus due to his wrist injury, and Marshall's excitement to reunite on the floor with Doncic once again is powerful.

It shows that Doncic's teammates love playing with him, contrary to the reports from last season, and it can finally begin to put a dent into the false narratives about Doncic that have been pushed over the last few seasons. Marshall even defended Doncic's defense earlier this month, and these types of comments are turning him into a fan favorite among the MFFLs.

Marshall is slowly becoming someone who Doncic loves to play with, and Doncic's trust in him has grown tremendously as the season has gone on. Marshall is becoming one of the most consistent players on the team, and his impact on both ends of the floor is only going to be maximized more once Doncic returns.

This season, Marshall is averaging 11.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 55 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from downtown. While Marshall's 3-point percentage is lower than what Mavs fans expected from him, he has steadily been improving in that area lately.

He is shooting 66.7 percent from downtown over the last three games, and him consistently getting good shots from beyond the arc combined with good volume is helping him gain some rhythm in the offense. His ability to score in the paint and knife to the rim is giving the offense a new feel, and if he can keep this up, the Mavs will be in a great spot moving forward.

He and Doncic's bond on and off the floor continues to grow, and him standing up for Doncic any chance he gets shows how much he enjoys playing with him. Doncic's ability to take role players to the next level must reappear once he returns from injury, and Marshall should end up being a big beneficiary of that.