A great support system goes a long way, no matter the sport. If the Los Angeles Lakers do not understand the value of that lesson, they can look over to the NFL Playoffs and see what the New England Patriots have done.
The Patriots were 4-13 in the 2024-25 NFL season. It was a brutal campaign. In 2025-26, New England enjoyed a tremendous turnaround with their record flipping to an incredible 14-3 in the regular season. They won the AFC East for the first time since Tom Brady wore the uniform.
A huge catalyst for their stunning season? Drake Maye. The second-year quarterback claimed All-Pro honors and is one of the frontrunners to take home NFL MVP. That would lead one to believe Maye has been the driving force behind the Pats' 2-0 record in the NFL Playoffs thus far, right?
Well, that isn't exactly how the story has gone. The superstar quarterback has struggled relative to his MVP form in the regular season. However, a strong supporting cast has helped pick up the slack. The Patriots offer a great team-building example to follow for the Lakers and Luka Doncic.
Patriots built a contender the Lakers can learn from immediately
A ton of the Patriots success in the regular season is owed to their incredible passing attack. New England had one of the most potent aerial assaults in the NFL and their MVP candidate should get a ton of the credit.
Maye led the NFL in completion percentage, passer rating, QBR, yards per attempt, and a handful of other categories. That dominant quarterback is not who has shown up in the postseason so far.
Maye and the Patriots are 2-0 after wins over the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans. However, the Pats quarterback has struggled on the whole. Maye has tossed 223.5 yards per game and four touchdowns, but hasn't taken care of the football particularly well (two interceptions and a playoff-leading six fumbles).
His shortcomings have not overwhelmed the team. After getting healthier down the stretch of the NFL season, the Patriots defense has picked up the slack for their young quarterback. Maye has been allowed to have his lapses while still delivering timely plays and contributions.
The supporting cast have done their part. The Patriots are one win away from a Super Bowl appearance despite the turnover troubles for Maye.
Having read all of this, think about the Lakers superstar by contrast in his sport. Does Doncic have the same wiggle room to falter in Los Angeles? Absolutely not.
Doncic has been brilliant, and an MVP candidate in his own right. The Lakers just have not filled out the roster accordingly to compliment him. Luka is producing at an absolutely ridiculous pace of 33-8-9 out of necessity. Even in doing so, the Lakers still aren't a bona fide contender.
Basketball is a sport that can be affected by individuals much more than football. As such, it's understandable for any superstar player to carry a heavier burden in the NBA by comparison to an NFL counterpart. However, Doncic is doing the bulk of the work and also receiving the majority of criticism.
Maye has not been an unstoppable force in the NFL Playoffs, but you'd hardly notice. Doncic will never quite be afforded that same luxury, but the Lakers superstar should be given much more support on the whole if a title is in the cards for his future in Los Angeles.
The year Doncic made the NBA Finals was the campaign in which the former Dallas Mavericks superstar posted his lowest usage rate with the team during a postseason run. The Mavericks built a capable unit around him. Any superstar in any sport deserves as much in an effort to win it all.