Mavericks need Klay Thompson to stop an issue that's spiraling out of control

Dallas Mavericks fans were extremely optimistic about Naji Marshall's 3-point shooting after he signed with the team in the summer of 2024, as he shot 38.7 percent from three in his final season with the New Orleans Pelicans. Fans expected him to be a reliable 3-and-D option alongside Luka Doncic, but this idea never panned out.

Two seasons into his Mavericks career, fans' former optimism has turned to panic. Dallas desperately needs to improve their shooting ahead of next season, as they're ranked 26th in 3-point percentage (34.3) and 27th in 3-pointers attempted per game (31.5) this year.

Marshall hasn't helped fix this problem, as he's shooting just 29.2 percent from long range. He has now shot below 30 percent from downtown in both of his first two seasons in Dallas after having a career-best shooting season in New Orleans, and something has to change. And it starts with getting in the lab with Klay Thompson.

Klay Thompson holds the keys to a Mavericks shooting revival

He knows he has to get back on track as a 3-point shooter if he wants to be a long-term fit in the Cooper Flagg era, and he just made a vow to do that with the help of Thompson and one of Dallas' other sharpshooters.

After the Mavericks' thrilling win over the Los Angeles Lakers last night, Marshall took to X to engage with some fans as he occasionally does after a game. One fan in particular commented on him figuring out his jump shot by working out with Klay Thompson during the summer, and it sounds like that's already his plan.

"Bro him and Max are going to be my best friends this summer," Marshall said.

If Marshall can truly become a good 3-point shooter, the sky is the limit for him.

He's averaging a career-high 15.4 points per game, along with 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.1 steals. His growth has been one of the biggest stories of the season, and his scoring in the paint has been phenomenal. The next step for him is to become reliable from behind the 3-point line, and training with Max Christie and Thompson will definitely help him in this area.

Thompson and Christie are the only two players on the team averaging at least 1.5 3-pointers made per game, and they're ranked second and third in 3-point percentage, only trailing Marvin Bagley III. Both players are incredible off the catch, and repetition will be the best thing for Marshall this summer.

Why Marshall's shooting will soon matter more than ever

He has to find a way to be a reliable floor spacer, as one of Flagg's weaknesses this season has been his shooting. Flagg has been much better from long range recently, as he made eight threes over Dallas' two games over the weekend, but they still have to put much more shooting around him.

His bread and butter is his finishing in the paint, and to maximize his chances to do this, the Mavericks need to improve their shooting. Defenders pack the paint when Flagg is paired with non-shooters, and this makes it harder for him to get to the rim.

This has been especially true for Marshall, as most defenders don't respect his jump shot much. Some teams will dare him to shoot open shots, and the fact that Marshall is hesitating on these looks shows how much he needs to improve.

His role will likely transition into being much more of an off-ball player, especially once Kyrie Irving returns next season, and this is why he has to become a confident shooter. Marshall won't have as many chances to knife toward the rim off self-created drives once Dallas is fully healthy, and this is why his hours in the gym with Christie and Thompson could make or break his summer.