CHARLOTTE — Drake Maye still has the arm that terrified AFC defenses all winter. The New England Patriots superstar returned to his North Carolina roots Thursday night, watching from courtside as the Charlotte Hornets upset the New York Knicks 114-103. During a second-half timeout, Maye popped out of his seat to launch signed footballs into the upper deck, drawing the loudest roar of the night from the Spectrum Center faithful.
Fresh off a breakout sophomore season that ended just shy of a ring, Maye looked relaxed in a designer hoodie alongside his wife, Ann Michael Maye. The Charlotte native didn’t just sit there; he put on a show. When the stadium announcer called his name, the crowd erupted. Maye grabbed a few Wilson pigskins and flicked them with the same effortless zip that helped him rack up 4,394 passing yards last season. It was a clear reminder to the locals that their hometown hero is now the king of Foxborough.
The energy in the building was electric, and the Hornets fed off it. Rookie sensation Kon Knueppel led the charge with 26 points, hitting his 250th three-pointer of the season to become the youngest player in NBA history to reach that mark. While Knueppel handled the hardwood, Maye’s presence felt like a victory lap for a player who just completed one of the most efficient seasons in NFL history, finishing with a 72% completion rate and 31 touchdowns.
“Every time I come back to the 704, it just feels right. These fans saw me when I was just a kid at Myers Park, so being able to show some love after the year we had in New England is special. I’m just soaking this up before we get back to work.”
— Drake Maye, New England Patriots Quarterback
The Patriots are still stinging from that 29-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, but Maye isn’t hiding. His 2025 campaign was no fluke. By leading New England to a 14-3 record and the AFC’s top tier, he’s officially entered the elite bracket of signal-callers. He narrowly missed out on the MVP award to Matthew Stafford, but the betting markets already have him as the 2026 favorite.
New England faces a tougher road this fall. They’ve lost the element of surprise, and the rest of the AFC East is loading up specifically to stop Maye’s deep ball. However, seeing him effortlessly launch souvenirs into the rafters in Charlotte suggests his right shoulder—which required a late-season injection—is back to 100 percent. The Patriots’ quest for revenge starts now, and their leader looks more than ready for the burden.
