Earlier this year, Netflix announced that it’s going to be launching a new NBA-centric documentary series. About six weeks before training camp gets underway, new developments have emerged about when the series will be launching.
“Starting 5” is going to be a 10-part docuseries that gives a behind-the-scenes look at some of the league’s top talents. The players chosen for the series’ first season are LeBron James, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler and Domantas Sabonis.
On Wednesday morning, it was announced that Netflix plans to drop its new NBA series. It is set to hit the streaming platform on October 9th.
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Along with announcing a release date for the series, Netflix also provided a brief description of what fans can expect from the documentary.
“The series captures all five athletes in their battles on and off the court as they chase greatness, push through injuries, and balance the demands of family and legacy.”
“Starting 5” is one of the numerous basketball-themed projects Netflix has produced in recent years. One of their biggest hits was the “Redeem Team” documentary that detailed Team USA’s run in the 2008 Olympics. There was also the hit movie “Hustle” starring Adam Sandler. The film featured numerous current and former players, including Edwards.
Breaking down the players in Netflix’s NBA-themed documentary series
Netflix did a good job of picking a diverse group of NBA players for “Starting 5.” While they are all high-level players in the league, they’re at various points in their careers.
Starting off with LeBron James, he entered year 21 at the time this series was filmed. At the age of 39, he managed to lead the LA Lakers to the postseason. However, they’d end up getting eliminated in the first round.
On the other hand, Anthony Edwards was a player rapidly ascending to the superstar tier of the NBA hierarchy. He had his best season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, averaging a career-high 25.9 points per game. Edwards also maintained his high level of play in the postseason, helping Minnesota reach the conference finals.
Jayson Tatum was already established as a superstar but hadn’t been able to deliver the Boston Celtics a championship. Alongside a dominant supporting cast, he was finally able to break through and help the iconic franchise win its 18th title.
After helping end a record-long postseason drought, Domantas Sabonis is leading the charge for the Sacramento Kings as they attempt to contend in the West. Along with securing his second-straight rebounding title, the three-time All-Star solidified himself as one of the league’s most versatile centers. Sabonis finished last season with stellar averages of 19.4 points, 13.7 rebounds and 8.2 assists.
As for Jimmy Butler, things did not go his way in 2024. Injuries caused him to miss 22 games in the regular season, and the Miami Heat failed to make the playoffs. To make matters worse, Butler suffered a sprained MCL in the Heat’s play-in tournament loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
