Here’s a deep dive into what happened with the cancellation of Starting 5 on Netflix — why the series didn’t survive beyond two seasons, what went wrong behind the scenes, and what this might tell us about broader trends at Netflix and in streaming content.
The short version: despite big names, big hype, and high expectations, Starting 5 failed to attract enough sustained viewership — and Netflix quietly decided not to renew it for a third season. (What’s on Netflix)
The premise of Starting 5 was promising. The series was a docuseries focused on elite talent in the NBA — giving behind-the-scenes access and storytelling woven around five star players, following their journey through an NBA season. From its inception, the show had major backing. Its production was handled by heavy hitters: Omaha Productions, the production company of LeBron James (via his SpringHill Co.), and Higher Ground Productions — the production outfit founded by Barack Obama and Michelle Obama. That level of star + executive power behind the show signaled not only confidence but also ambition for Starting 5 to become a big, ongoing sports-doc franchise. (What’s on Netflix)
Season 1 featured some of the biggest names — players whose names alone bring attention, star power that should have translated to viewers. Season 2 again boasted big names, even crunch-time storylines (playoffs, Finals contention for some players), and plenty of built-in drama. On paper: it had everything. (The Sun)
But that star-power formula didn’t convert into long-term audience engagement. According to reporting, Netflix’s internal data for Season 1 showed underperformance: views were much lower than what Netflix expected — or what they had seen with other similar docuseries. (Barrett Media)
Third-party analytics and public discussion later indicated Season 2 didn’t revive momentum. Early signals pointed to the season failing to spark enough enthusiasm or draw enough viewers to justify continuing the show. Sources familiar with the decision reportedly said audience turnout simply wasn’t strong enough to justify a third season. (Barrett Media)
In simpler terms: high expectations, high investments, big stars — but low yield.
So: why did this happen? Several key factors (and ironies) helped doom Introducing 5.
One major issue was comparison. The series was often compared to other sports docuseries (or similar projects) — such as the football-focused docuseries Quarterback. That’s bad news because when Netflix puts a new docuseries next to an already-popular benchmark, underwhelming performance stands out more starkly. Reportedly, Starting 5’s Season 1 viewership lagged far behind Quarterback. (Yahoo)
Another problem might have been oversaturation. The current streaming environment is flooded with content — many docuseries, many sports-adjacent shows, many “behind the scenes of athletes” stories. When everything becomes high-profile, the novelty wears off, and viewers demand even sharper storytelling or stronger hooks. In that crowd, simply having star names may no longer be enough. The ambitious backing from heavy-hit producers might even have raised expectations too high, making it harder for actual performance to measure up. Some analysts have suggested Netflix’s strategy — greenlighting many shows across genres and then trimming those that don’t deliver quickly — may prioritize short-term metrics over long-term story growth. (What’s on Netflix)
Also, the conversion from “NBA fan / casual viewer” to “Season-long docuseries binge-watcher” might not be as smooth as producers imagine. Being invested in basketball — or loving highlight reels — doesn’t necessarily translate into spending hours watching a narrative documentary about players’ lives, careers, routines, behind-the-scenes footage. That core disconnect between subject interest and format interest may have blurred the potential audience.
Finally, streaming economics and expectations have changed. As documented across other cancellations in 2025, even shows with reasonable viewership have been cut — sometimes due to production costs, scheduling, budget priorities, or the shifting strategy inside Netflix toward producing only the highest-performing shows. (Pulse Nigeria) Starting 5 may have fallen victim to that broader climate of shrinking patience and high standards.
The cancellation of Starting 5, while not shocking given the data, still marks a sad turning point in a way: it suggests that even big-budget, star-backed sports docuseries are no longer immune to ruthless streaming metrics. Audiences may still have interest, but relentlessly data-driven decisions can kill a show — before it ever reaches its potential.
For fans of the NBA and sports documentaries, this may feel like a loss: Starting 5 promised a window into elite athletic lives, stories beyond highlights and box scores, and a chance to see the human side of pro athletes. That opportunity will no longer continue in the form this series offered.
For Netflix, and for streaming as a business, Starting 5’s cancellation probably sends a message internally: the threshold for what “works” is high; star power and big names are no longer guarantees; and only content that draws and retains broad engagement — quickly — will survive.
This may mean shorter series runs, more conservative renewals, and perhaps fewer risks with niche-appeal docuseries. In turn, that could influence the kinds of stories we get going forward. Projects might become more formulaic, more obviously “safe bets,” and perhaps less daring.
For viewers, this shift raises questions: how many good stories will get cut before they can truly breathe? How many interesting projects will get their shot but not enough time to grow? And are we, as viewers, willing to accept that streaming platforms increasingly treat series as disposable content rather than long-form art with room to evolve?
At the same time, it also makes clear that quality alone isn’t enough — success now requires immediate and strong metrics. Even a well-executed series with an all-star cast can be dismissed if it doesn’t light up the numbers quickly.
For those who feel disappointed by this — who hoped Starting 5 might continue and deepen its storytelling — there’s a broader call here: for transparency, for patience, and perhaps for rethinking what success means in a post-streaming age. Because once the numbers don’t add up, the show gets cut, no matter the heart behind it.
In the end, Starting 5’s cancellation feels emblematic of the streaming era: bold ideas, big budgets, and high ambitions — but only a narrow margin for error. Not every story gets to unfold. Not every voice gets heard. And for viewers, it’s a reminder: invest wisely, because sometimes, even the most promising show might just disappear without warning.
