Ladies and gentlemen, gather around as we embark on a journey into the amusing and sometimes bewildering world of celebrity sports documentaries! Yes, I’m talking about the latest sensation on Netflix: “Starting 5.” It has all the drama of a soap opera but with a lot more sweat and a lot less… well, decent acting.
Let’s just say that watching “Starting 5” is like binge-watching a ball game with your slightly annoying friend who keeps reminding you how much better they were at basketball in high school. And who do we find in this whirlwind of nets and dreams? None other than Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, Domantas Sabonis, and Jayson Tatum! Can you imagine them trying to share a flat? That’s a reality show I’d pay to watch.
“Starting 5,” which sounds a lot like a restaurant specialty that nobody really orders, debuted this month, and if you were following the NBA like it was the latest season of *The Crown*, you would know it chronicles the lives of these players during the past season. Now, get this – it’s already confirmed that we’re getting a second season, with completely different players! Apparently, the producers wanted to keep us on our toes. Or perhaps they just ran out of interesting things to film that didn’t involve LeBron’s latest hair product.
New Season, New Players, Same Drama
Now let’s discuss the headline-grabbing players of the upcoming season: Jaylen Brown, the ever-efficient Kevin Durant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (who sounds like he should be running a Fortune 500 company rather than dribbling a basketball), Tyrese Haliburton, and James Harden—whose beard is practically a co-star at this point! Honestly, with that lineup, we’re surely in for some fantastic antics. If KD doesn’t steal the spotlight as well as he steals the ball, I’ll eat my hat—though I would rather it was a slice of pizza.
By the way, did I mention that Netflix has become something of a sports documentary powerhouse? Talk about a turnaround. Remember when people used to just watch old reruns of *Friends*? Now, your equivalent couch potato will be glued to the screen watching a real-life drama unfold as players navigate their lives on and off the court. Who needs fiction when you’ve got these athletes living the plot twists?
And what of the first season? Well, it was evidently well-received, which probably means folks have a much higher tolerance for athletes’ “personal” stories than they do when their own relatives start talking about their day. Seriously, “Starting 5” is basically what would happen if *The Real World* and *ESPN* had a baby, and viewers lapped it up. Basketball and drama, a combination as classic as fish and chips—if the chips were actually made of broken dreams and Jordan sneakers!
What’s Next for “Starting 5”?
As for when we can expect this new season to hit our screens? Well, it’s unclear, but I suspect it’ll land just in the nick of time for the following NBA season. Like a final-minute three-point shot but without so much tension—unless you count me trying to figure out how to open a bag of popcorn without making a scene.
So, there you have it: “Starting 5.” A dazzling spectacle of athleticism, drama, and insight into the players’ lives that might have you laughing, crying, or just questioning your life choices. Either way, grab your popcorn and enjoy the ride—at least until Netflix brings us something even more absurd. Maybe “The Real Housewives of the NBA”? Now that would be a slam dunk!
“Starting 5”
Updated on October 30, 2024, 10:47 a.m
NBA star Kevin Durant (r.) will play one of the main roles in the second season of “Starting 5”. © IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire/Ariana Ruiz
This month marked the highly anticipated debut of the basketball documentary series “Starting 5” on Netflix, which closely followed several prominent NBA stars throughout the dramatic 2023/24 season. Anticipation is already building for a second season, which promises to introduce a fresh lineup of players to the show’s audience.
The streaming giant Netflix has firmly established its reputation for producing compelling sports documentaries, capturing the hearts of basketball aficionados among its vast subscriber base. With an impressive catalog, basketball fans have enjoyed a range of insightful programming that deepens their connection to the sport.
Among its noteworthy offerings is the acclaimed documentary series “The Last Dance,” which delved into Michael Jordan’s extraordinary journey to becoming a legendary figure in the NBA. Additionally, the hour-and-a-half documentary “The Redeem Team” chronicled the U.S. national basketball team’s quest for redemption following a disappointing performance at the 2004 Olympic Games.
On October 9th, a new basketball documentary made its way onto the platform: The inaugural season of “Starting 5” provided viewers with an intimate look into the lives of several notable NBA players, allowing fans to experience the highs and lows they faced throughout the season. Featured prominently in the show were unbelievable talents like Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards, LeBron James, Domantas Sabonis, and Jayson Tatum.
“Starting 5”: Two veteran stars in the second season
Due to its positive reception among viewers, Netflix confirmed just last Tuesday that “Starting 5” will indeed return for a second season. This time around, the series will spotlight a fresh set of players, including standout athletes Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics), Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), and James Harden (LA Clippers), marking a shift in focus within the league.
While the exact premiere date for the forthcoming season of “Starting 5” remains under wraps, insiders suggest that the production team is likely to adopt a similar strategy as the first season. This means we can expect the new episodes to drop ahead of the start of the NBA’s new season, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
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