Malik Nabers opens up about being Giants’ ‘chosen one’ before much-hyped debut

Giants rookie receiver sensation Malik Nabers catches up with Post columnist Steve Serby for some kickoff weekend Q&A.

Q: You’re wearing No. 1 , playing for the New York Giants. You’ve met the family of former Giant Ray Flaherty, whose No. 1 was the NFL’s first retired jersey and will be at the game.

A: It’s a big deal, because it’s the first retired jersey, but I don’t really think like that. … I don’t want to make it to be in my mind like I’m telling myself, “I go to do this, I got to do this,” because this is the kind of number that I’m wearing, “I got to do that.” Don’t get me wrong, it is a big thing, but it’s not a big thing in my mind, because I don’t want to overset my mind on something that I feel that if I put too much pressure into it, I’m not going to perform as well. When you overdo yourself on the field and you got to feel like you want to do this, you want to do that, you start to lose your focus on what you actually can do. So I want to make sure my mind is at the stable position. But to be No. 1 at the New York Giants, I do feel some kind of way in my heart that I was the chosen one, I was born to do this, I’ve been blessed. … This is the start of a new journey.

Q: Do you think there will be a bull’s-eye or target on your back trying to stop you?

A: Most definitely.

Q: How do you feel about that?

A: Let’s do it.

Q: Do you respond to trash talk?

A: In the game I really don’t trash talk. It’s a lot going through my mind, but if somebody tells me something, I got to respond and I’m going to respond, but most of the time I really don’t be talking.

Q: From your Instagram: “My mind won’t let me lose.”

A: Yeah, when I’m out there it’s like I just can’t lose. My mind don’t got no losing mentality in it. At the end of the day, I’m going to win, I’m going to find a way how to win, and I won’t lose. Even if I do lose, I’m going to keep on going until I win.

Q: Imagine you are scouting yourself as a receiver: What are your three top strengths?

A: Hands … speed … catch radius.

Q: Why would you buy a ticket to watch Malik Nabers play football?

A: I’m going to be electric. I’m going to try my best, that’s really all I can do.

Q: Whatever comes to mind: Deonte Banks.

A: Dawg. Want to be the best at what he does. Never going to back down. Confident in himself. He’s going to be great.

Q: Did you tell me you and Deonte were just alike, or did he tell me that?

A: I think everybody say me and him are just alike. He’s like the louder one, I’m the quiet one. But like when we both together, it’s nothing but laughs, so he’s like my twin.

Q: Wan’Dale Robinson.

A: Quick, shifty, smart. Got a crazy vertical that nobody knows about.

Q: Jalin Hyatt.

A: Fast. Quick. Good at tracking the ball. Smart.

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Q: Darius Slayton.

A: Handsy. Smooth feet. Also smart. Also a little quiet dawg.

Q: What does “quiet dawg” mean?

A: He’s a dawg but he’s not like the dawg that likes be out loud, like a loud dawg like I am — I’m a loud dawg. I’m going to speak about certain stuff I do — he’s going to make plays and he’s going to run back to the line. Me, I’m hollering, I’m screaming, I’m dancing.

Q: What do you think of Daniel Jones’ beard?

A: He got to keep it.

Q: Why?

A: I don’t like when he cuts the beard off. He got to keep the beard. Make him look tougher (laugh).

Q: What have you learned about him as a quarterback?

A: He’s smart. He’s really like a — how should I put this? — he’s a good quarterback to get on page with, because he’s always trying to better himself. He’s a hard worker, I can say that for sure. His work ethic is tremendous.

Q: Ever envision yourself making a catch like Odell Beckham Jr. did?

A: I think we all did (chuckle). But his catch is so crazy, I mean, three fingers. It’s hard to do some stuff like that.

Q: From your Instagram: “Can’t tell if they hate me or hate that it’s me.”

A: After I got drafted, and all the stuff that was going on about me being just high-maintenance and all the other stuff that was carrying on my name. It was just like I don’t know if they hate me or love me. I don’t know if they really hate me or they love me when I’m doing good. I don’t know if they hate me or they love me. I don’t know when I’m doing bad, I don’t know if they hate me or love me.

Q: You want to be loved, right?

A: I mean, yeah, but at the end of the day, I still always go with my saying, “Most hated.”

Q: When was the first time you realized you were a dawg on the field?

A: Probably my junior season of high school. I felt like nobody could stop me.

Q: Why is it so important for you to be a dawg?

A: I mean, that’s what people like. That’s what these owners like, that’s what these coaches like. They like people that’s going to go out there and compete, and that’s what I’m going to do.

Q: Define “dawg” on the field.

A: It means just unstoppable really.

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Q: Are you a student of the game?

A: I mean, of course, yeah. I take time in trying to better my skills, hear from other people what they think. So yeah, I feel like I’m a student of the game.

Q: From your mother to you on your Instagram: “You have defied all of the odds and overcame everything that was meant to tear you down.”

A: My whole journey that I’ve been getting to here, people have thrown a lot of stuff at me, and I still continued to overcome everything that’s been thrown at me.

Q: What was the biggest hurdle you had to overcome?

A: Probably say not playing my senior year (high school), and probably those dropped two punts I had my sophomore year (LSU) at the beginning of the season.

Q: What drives you?

A: My mom. Her kids drive her. She woke up early mornings to go to work, late nights, all day, just so we have food on the table, clothes on our back. Never had no questions about it, never took a break from it, she continued to grind. I’m doing the same right now so she don’t have to do it, so I’m going to go out here every day I play the game remember that, all the fight that she did, I’m going to put it on my back.

Q: She’ll be at the game?

A: Yeah.

Q: What’s it like being one of New York’s most eligible bachelors?

A: I am?

Q: You’re a good-looking guy …

A: (Smile) I guess that’s a plus. I’m a good-looking dude, so that’s a plus for me, I guess.

Q: What have you learned about the New York area?

A: A lot of traffic.

Q: Any favorite New York City things?

A: Just shop.

Q: You’re into fashion?

A: A little bit. I try to get into it.

Q: Have you found a good place?

A: I go with Isaiah Simmons, he’s knows a lot of spots around here, so we just go in the city, he just takes me to different stores.

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Q: Do you have a certain fashion style?

A: No, I’m trying to mix it up but I’m too stuck in my ways. I like skinny jeans, stuff like that.

Q: If you could go one-on-one against any cornerback in NFL history, who would it be?

A: Deion Sanders.

Q: If you could catch a touchdown pass from any quarterback in NFL history?

A: Tom Brady.

Q: Describe your pregame routine.

A: I don’t really have no pregame routine. I just wake up, and it’s game day.

Q: What do you think will be going through your guy standing in the tunnel?

A: I’m going to have butterflies in my stomach, but I know Dabs [coach Brian Daboll] is going to come to me, he’s going to tell me a few words, about just don’t worry about anything that’s going on the outside, just play your game.

Q: Do you dream about the Hall of Fame?

A: All players think about going into the Hall of Fame, but you got a long journey to … that’s the end goal. That’s a legendary status. I’m going to continue to work to that status, but I’m not really thinking about that right now.

Q: What would you want your legacy one day to be?

A: It’s not really up to me, it’s up to what the man above got set for me in my future. I’m going to continue to follow in the footsteps of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Q: What are you most proud of about where you’ve gotten to?

A: I’m most proud of that I ain’t quit yet. A lot of people kind of feel like they don’t want to do it no more, or they feel like they made it. And that’s not really me. So I’m most happy that I stayed with that same mentality, that same drive to want to be the best, want to work hard, never once took a day off really.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A; NBA Youngboy, I want to do a president … [John F.] Kennedy, Neil Armstrong.

Q: Why Neil Armstrong?

A: I want to know what he saw in space.

Q: Personal goals?

A: Rookie of the Year, thousand-yard receiver, Pro Bowl.

Q: What is your message to Giants fans about Malik Nabers?

A: Look out. Look out for the year.

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