In the New York Giants’ O-line, the QB-WR duo of Russell Wilson and Malik Nabers is off to a great start. The Super Bowl winner is a genuine leader, both on and off the field. He never hesitates to praise and uplift his teammates. This was evident during his introductory press conference when he called Nabers a “competitor” and a “warrior.” The receiver was thrilled, responding with two smiling face emojis. But the conversation is getting more serious now. As OTAs and offseason programs approach, Nabers wants to set clear expectations.

During his recent appearance on the May 1 episode of 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony, Malik Nabers discussed his mindset. He explained how nearly every receiver thinks about their numbers—whether it’s to make the Pro Bowl, meet contract incentives, or increase their earnings.

He revealed his demand to Russell Wilson and said, “You might have four receivers out there on the field, like everybody expecting to probably get a ball, plus now on top of that, if you don’t have four receivers, you’ve got a tight end. He’s still running around. You might get a running back, he runs so it’s five people out there running around now, and you told me, you told me, I was going to get the ball. I’m getting open, and I’m not getting that pill, we’ve got a problem.” The message is obvious.

Malik Nabers wants Russell Wilson to do clear communication and pass the ball frequently. With a 14-season experience in his kitty, the veteran will not take much time to adjust. He has been testing the waters in the last 3 seasons, with the Broncos and Steelers. However,. The NY Giants have shown trust. And he will do his best to repay it.

While the franchise sorts out the play calling and passing issues, the receiver is dealing with a personal tragedy. His college friend and LSU teammate Kyren Lacy passed away a few days back. And it’s getting emotional for the young 21-year-old NFL star.

Malik Nabers reveals his regret after his best friend’s death

Malik Nabers and Kyren Lacy played two seasons together—2022 and 2023—at LSU. In 2024, Nabers entered the NFL after being selected sixth overall by the New York Giants, while Lacy remained behind to finish his final college season and prepare for the draft. He even participated in the NFL Combine.

However, during his best friend’s absence, Lacy faced some off-field issues. In December, he was involved in an incident where he allegedly struck a 78-year-old man. Tragically, the trial was scheduled for just two days after the man passed away.

While talking about his mistake in leaving his friend behind at LSU, Malik Nabers got emotional. He added, “Bro, I regret leaving. I regret leaving school because I knew that if I had been there — if we had been there — it would have changed. Like, that’s probably my biggest regret. I’m not going to say it’s definite, but it’s probably my biggest regret — just not taking him with us when we left for the draft.” That was heartbreaking.

Nabers and Lacy spoke almost every day. The Giants‘ wide receiver even gave him tips during the offseason to help improve his game. But fate had other plans. Lacy got into a car chase after a family altercation and later discharged a firearm. When the chase came to an end, officers found him dead in the driver’s seat.

The tragedy still weighs heavily on Nabers. “Not having him with us when we got drafted… that’s probably our biggest regret now, seeing what happened. Because we all wanted to get there, and he was the only one who never got to see the end of the daylight,” Nabers said, reflecting on his mindset.

What’s done is done—but now, it’s time to move forward.