After Just Two Seasons, Netflix Has Reportedly Decided To End Their "Starting 5" Series

SBJ - The sports documentary space is robust, but it ain’t easy. I’m hearing that “Starting 5” is getting benched after a two-season run on Netflix. 

The NBA-focused effort tracked five players over the course of the season, and even with a fortuitous ending with two of its characters reaching the seven-game NBA Finals (Pacers G Tyrese Haliburton and Thunder G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), the audience just wasn’t there to keep the show going. Rockets F Kevin Durant, Clippers G James Harden and Celtics F Jaylen Brown were also featured in Season 2, while Lakers F LeBron James, Kings F Domantas Sabonis, Warriors G Jimmy Butler, T’Wolves G Anthony Edwards and Celtics F Jayson Tatum were featured in Season 1. Omaha Productions, James’ SpringHill Co. and Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground were executive producers on the show.

Netflix’s first batch of internal data for “Starting 5” Season 2 won’t be available until early 2026, but as noted by the Entertainment Strategy Guy, various third-party numbers weren’t looking good for the series. Internal Season 1 numbers from Netflix during the second half of 2024 were well behind the NFL docuseries “Quarterback,” and that trend was likely continued in the back of half of this year with both series’ second seasons.

Netflix did not have any comment.

Well this stinks. I know Netflix usually pulls a move like this and cancels all sorts of shows after only 2 seasons, but as someone who thoroughly enjoyed both seasons of Starting 5, I for one am not thrilled with this development. Obviously, due to personal rooting interests, I was very entertained by watching Jayson Tatum win his first title in Season 1, and for my money, Season 2 was just as good.

Now I'll admit, I am not exactly an expert on ratings or how these things make money and whatnot, but I feel like there's a ton of shit on Netflix that gets to live on past two seasons that can't draw huge numbers. I also think it's stupid to compare ANYTHING to NFL content. I don't care what it is, you're never going to touch the amount of eyeballs any sort of football content attracts. If that's seriously why Starting 5 is getting canned, that is beyond stupid in my opinion, but then again, I'm a basketball guy.

I also find this annoying because the NBA has never been better than it is right now. There are a ton of intriguing storylines and players, and the behind-the-scenes look that this series gave us is why it was so awesome. You're telling me you wouldn't watch something following Luka and the whole LA debacle? What about OKC as they go through their title defense and look like a team that might win 70+ games? Maybe going with Steph Curry or Chris Paul for the older legend selection? There's so much meat on the bone when it comes to storylines, it's just a bummer that we won't be getting a Season 3. 

Again, I am a moron and have no idea how these things work, but can the producers just take this show/idea somewhere else like HBO? It seems silly to me to just let this thing die, and if Netflix doesn't want it, then take it somewhere else. I'd absolutely watch another season, especially if this season continues to go how it's trending and I feel like I'm not alone in that. 

As they say, nothing lasts forever and all good things must come to an end blah blah blah, but this is a bummer.