Ever wondered what your life would look like if you were an NBA Superstar?
This Netflix Sports Documentary entitled “Starting 5” delivers the life of five NBA superstars in order to give the fans behind-the-scenes footage in their locker rooms, their reactions upon achieving such milestones and what it’s like to win an NBA title.
And here are five reasons why you should watch this basketball masterpiece:
1. The King’s Empire: LeBron James
As the show follows the 2023-24 NBA season, we get to see the life of one of the greatest, and arguably the greatest, basketball players in the entire planet, LeBron James.
At the age of 39 years old and being officially listed as the oldest player in the league, “Starting 5” was able to showcase the ever so consistent willingness of LeBron to be at the best shape he can be. We also get to see King James’ life inside his empire, which is in his household. Being a basketball legend starting at the age of 18 is already hard, but becoming a father of three kids and still playing competitive basketball after 21 years of playing in the league? That level of difficulty is beyond extreme.
The show also gives a view on how LeBron treats such major achievements as he reached 40,000 points, the most by any player in the NBA. More than that, fans now have an idea on how LBJ handled such playoff elimination, in the hands of the Denver Nuggets.
2. Growth of the Ant-Man: Anthony Edwards
During the 2022-23 season, Ant was able to finally break the playoff drought in Minnesota as he helped their squad reach the Quarterfinals. The following season, we saw how much maturity the 22-year-old superstar developed in his 4-year stint in the league.
Throughout the series, viewers were able to watch how he showed his love for her girlfriend and his family. We also get to see how Edwards balances being the top competitor that he is, fulfilling his duty to her partner and newly-born daughter but still being a child at heart. When Minnesota was able to beat the defending champs Denver Nuggets in 7 games during the 2nd Round of the Western Conference playoffs, his confidence was certainly off-the-charts.
Sharing what it’s like to defend one of the league’s greatest ball handlers from the Dallas Mavericks, Kyrie Irving, during the Western Conference Finals, the Ant-Man vows to return to the big stage and win the ultimate prize as they faced elimination with the Mavs winning their series, 4 games to 1.
3. Sac Town’s Gentle Giant: Domantas Sabonis
Following the footsteps of his father, Arvydas Sabonis, who also played in the NBA for the Portland Trail Blazers from 1995 to 2003, Domas displayed greatness on the court and how he is a lot different from his father.
Following the first ever playoff appearance of the Sacramento Kings last 2022-23 season, Sabonis continued his hustle and grind as he led the league in double-double performance during the 2023-24 season. His wife and his father gave their reaction upon knowing that Sabonis wasn’t named an All Star player in that season. The pride of Lithuanian basketball was able to express how he manages being a father to her two kids and how he spent his day-offs with his family.
As the Kings go in the Play-In Tournament and face the Warriors, whom they lost against last season in 7 games, Domas was able to get back and make his revenge game on them. Against the New Orleans Pelicans though, he struggled as their team lost and failed to make the playoffs and he ultimately blames himself for not being good enough for the team.
4. The Fiery Spirit of Jimmy Butler
Being one of the league’s most colorful personalities, we get to know what runs through the mind of a Jimmy Butler.
From trolling the media in the Media Day for being an “emo”, demonstrating how he becomes so good at the game of Dominos to ultimately flashing his barista skills and his love for coffees, this series was able to capture all of that from Jimmy in their 10 episodes. Playing for the Miami Heat, a well-disciplined and strict team when it comes to handling off-court concerns of their players, Butler was given a challenge of battling through injuries throughout the season and how to overcome the passing of his father, Jimmy Butler Sr.
Butler struggled to handle his emotions and priorities after such devastating loss. But his courage and fighting spirit can only go so far as he couldn’t help his team battle against the Boston Celtics in 1st round of the Eastern Conference as he was sidelined with a knee injury.
5. Boston’s Heart: Jayson Tatum
From failing to win the title in 2022 against the Golden State Warriors, the heart of the Boston Celtics was able to overcome many criticisms given to them as they try to reach the promised land again.
During his childhood, JT was motivated to win it all, having his parents guide him to the right path. As he enters the league, Tatum never fails to prioritize his son, Deuce, as he makes it a point that his child is well loved even though he has a great duty to fulfill as a Celtic superstar. And in his 7th year in the league, Tatum was willing to sacrifice anything just to win a championship, even if it meant scoring less and having his co-star Jaylen Brown win the Finals MVP.
Penultimately, the Celtics hang banner #18 as they dominate the playoffs up until the NBA Finals. They were only beaten twice, three times in the entire postseason, making Tatum finally an NBA champion.
