Netflix has decided to cancel the original docuseries “Starting 5” after just two seasons, according to a report from Sports Business Journal. The show provided a behind-the-scenes look at the NBA by following the in-season journeys of five star players.
The series premiered in July and featured well-known athletes such as LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, and Domantas Sabonis. Despite the prominent cast, the show struggled to attract a large audience, failing to meet Netflix’s expectations.
Season 1 accumulated 4.6 million views during its initial availability period from July to December. However, viewership sharply declined to around 1 million in the first half of the following year, data from What’s on Netflix reveals.
In comparison, Netflix’s similar sports docuseries achieved significantly higher numbers. “Quarterback,” which documents NFL players’ seasons, recorded 12.7 million views during its opening period. Meanwhile, the Formula 1-centered “F1: Drive to Survive” reached 10.4 million views over a comparable timeframe.
Neither season of “Starting 5” appeared in Netflix’s weekly Top 10 shows list during its run. As of now, viewership figures for Season 2 have not been released by Netflix or related sources.
The cancellation highlights the importance of strong audience engagement for sports documentary series on streaming platforms. Despite the NBA’s global popularity, “Starting 5” did not resonate as strongly with viewers compared to other sports-centric productions.
Netflix’s decision to discontinue “Starting 5” after two seasons indicates a shift in their sports documentary content strategy. It remains to be seen how Netflix will reallocate resources to maximize viewer interest and performance in future original sports programming.
Industry analysts suggest that future docuseries may need to emphasize storytelling, unique access, or fanbase engagement to compete effectively in the crowded streaming landscape. This case also illustrates the critical role of viewership data in guiding content renewals on major platforms like Netflix.
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