[SBJ] Netflix’s ‘Starting 5’ has been cancelled.
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.