The 2024-25 NBA season is quickly approaching, and on October 9, Netflix released a documentary, ‘Starting 5’. This 10-part series documented the 2023-24 season through the viewpoints of five NBA stars: LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, and Domantas Sabonis. Each episode is 30 minutes to an hour long.
In this social media age, we get an inside look at these athletes’ lives, but this documentary took it to the next level. We saw what the players don’t post on social media and much more. Here are my three biggest takeaways after viewing the entire series.
1. NBA players may look superhuman, but they are not
Usually, when the playoffs arrive, one of the alternate egos that appears is “Playoff Jimmy.” Butler is a six-time NBA All-Star, but when April comes, a different player is born. During the last two playoff runs as a member of the Miami Heat, Butler has averaged 27 points per game while leading the team to an NBA Finals and Eastern Conference finals. Butler was injured and missed the 2023-24 playoffs. But just because Butler looks superhuman on the court in the playoffs doesn’t mean he is. His father, Jimmy Butler Sr., died in February, and Butler had a tough time throughout the rest of the season. Butler’s close relationship with his father is shown early in the series. The show details how proud Butler’s dad was of him while he lived with him in Miami.
This series gives us a deeper look inside their lives off the court. All five players are fathers and have families off the court. Tatum and Edwards are newer fathers and had their first child at a young age, and we see them figuring it out as they go. Tatum is a father to seven-year-old Jayson Tatum Jr., known as Deuce. Anthony Edwards also had his first child during last season.
They show the progression of the James family. Bronny suffered cardiac arrest, and in the documentary, they take you through the process of him making his college debut at USC and then being drafted No. 55 by the Lakers. James has three kids, Bronny is 20, Bryce is 17, and Zhuri is nine. Sabonis has two kids, a two-year-old, Tiger, and a one-year-old, Eleven. Butler has two kids: a daughter, Rylee, who is 4, and a son, Brayden.
A common theme throughout this series is that even NBA players struggle to balance their careers while spending time with family. The NBA season is long; it features 82 regular-season games before the two-month playoff schedule. Family time is limited while having games and on road trips for weeks, but each player shows their routine for still being involved in their kids’ lives.
2. The young talent in the NBA is through the roof
Two of the best young players in basketball are Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards. Tatum, 26, is one of the most accomplished players during their first seven years in a long time. Tatum is a five-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA, 2022-23 All-Star game MVP, and 2021-22 Eastern Conference Finals MVP. However, one thing was missing from his trophy case during his first six years in the NBA: a Larry O’Brien trophy. Tatum silenced all the critics in June 2024 when he played a massive role in the Celtics winning the 2024 NBA Finals. Jaylen Brown won the Finals MVP, but Tatum still was excellent, averaging 22 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.
Edwards has lived up to the hype and more after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He just turned 23 and is a two-time All-Star, finishing seventh for the MVP award in 2023. Edwards was also a member of the All-NBA second team last season. In 2023, Edwards led the Timberwolves to their first conference finals since the 2003-04 season.
Tatum has continued to gain confidence and has grown as a leader. On the court, Tatum doesn’t have that cocky side to him; he is a more silent killer. But on the other hand, Edwards is the complete opposite of Tatum. Throughout a game, you will see Edwards getting in the face of opponents, trash-talking, and doing everything and anything to get in their heads. Edwards is a great young player, and he carries himself with a level of confidence that is rare for a player his age.
3. The dedication to the craft is much more than an hour game
Throughout this series, it shows each player’s routine before and after each game. A game day consists of stretching, shooting around, and more on-court work. Even after games, some players will get shots up or do strength work.
There was a previous report that James spends over $1 million on his body every year. When he was asked about that, James denied that rumor. Whether that is true or not, James discussed at length how important it is to take care of your body to have sustained success in the NBA. James said that early in his career, when he entered the league as a teenager, there wasn’t a big emphasis on taking care of the body.
A week after Jayson Tatum won his first championship, he was already thinking about what he could do to win another title. Each season lasts from October until June, but to be among the best players in the world requires a full-time commitment. Players must adapt and evolve to achieve greatness, with the talent level continuing to rise in the NBA.
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