Netflix actually did it. They found a way to make the 82-game grind look as dramatic as a Game 7. After the massive success of the first installment—which followed LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards, and Domantas Sabonis—everyone is asking the same thing. Is there a Starting 5 Season 2?
Short answer: Yes.
The formula works. You take five NBA stars at different points in their careers, throw a camera crew in their faces for nine months, and wait for the locker room tension to boil over. It’s not just about the highlights we see on SportsCenter. It’s about the ice baths at 2:00 AM. It’s about the FaceTime calls with kids from a hotel room in Salt Lake City. Honestly, the first season set a high bar, but the whispers coming out of the production camps suggest the second chapter might actually be more interesting because of the specific personalities involved.
Who is in the Starting 5 Season 2 lineup?
The rumors have been flying for months, but the dust has finally settled on the cast. Netflix and Uninterrupted (LeBron’s media company) aren't messing with the winning recipe. They’ve picked a group that covers every "archetype" of an NBA player.
You have the aging superstar. The young phenom. The international icon. The defensive specialist. And, of course, the guy everyone loves to hate-watch.
While the official announcement for Starting 5 Season 2 came with plenty of hype, the real story is in the mix of players. We are looking at Kevin Durant, James Harden, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Haliburton, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Think about that for a second.
You have Kevin Durant, who is basically a basketball monk. He lives and breathes the game, and his social media presence alone is enough to fuel a three-episode arc. Then you have James Harden. The "system" himself. Watching his transition into his current role while navigating the twilight of his career is going to be fascinating. It's a different vibe than Season 1. It’s less about "who is the best?" and more about "how do these guys stay relevant in a league that is getting younger and faster every single day?"
Why this roster changes the game
Jaylen Brown is probably the most intriguing addition here. Fresh off a Finals MVP and a championship, he’s a man who has always felt a bit underappreciated compared to his teammate Jayson Tatum. Seeing the "other" half of the Boston duo get the Netflix treatment is going to reveal a lot about the internal dynamics of the Celtics.
Then there’s Tyrese Haliburton.
He is the joy of the league right now. If Anthony Edwards was the breakout quote-machine of the first season, Haliburton is the guy who will show the "new NBA" perspective. He’s incredibly plugged into the culture, he’s funny, and he’s leading an Indiana Pacers team that plays at a breakneck speed.
Then you have SGA—Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
He’s the fashion icon. The coolest guy in the room. But he’s also a stone-cold killer on the court who has turned the Oklahoma City Thunder into a legitimate powerhouse. His segments will likely lean heavily into the lifestyle side of the league. Expect a lot of pre-game tunnel walks and high-end fits.
The logistics: When does it actually drop?
Production for these shows is a nightmare. You have to realize that camera crews are embedded with these players for the entire 2024-2025 season. They don't just show up for the big games. They are there for the practice sessions in November when everyone’s legs feel like lead. They are there during the trade deadline when everyone is checking their phones every five minutes.
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Historically, Netflix follows a specific release pattern for their sports docuseries like Quarterback or Full Swing.
We can expect Starting 5 Season 2 to hit screens in late 2025. Specifically, look for a window around October, just as the 2025-2026 NBA season is tipping off. It’s the perfect marketing loop. You get fans hyped for the new season by showing them the "behind the scenes" of the one that just ended.
What most people get wrong about these shows
People think it’s all scripted. It’s not.
Sure, the players are aware of the cameras. You can’t put a lens in Kevin Durant's face and expect him to totally forget it's there. But after three months? They stop caring. That’s when you get the real stuff. You get the raw frustration after a loss. You get the genuine exhaustion.
The biggest misconception about Starting 5 Season 2 is that it’s just a PR fluff piece. If it were, it wouldn't be successful. The reason the first season worked—and why the second will likely work even better—is the access to the mundane. It’s the conversations in the cars. It’s the "boring" parts of being a multi-millionaire athlete that actually make them human.
How the NBA is leaning into "Direct-to-Fan" content
The league knows that the old way of broadcasting isn't enough anymore. Gen Z and younger fans don't want to just watch a game on TNT; they want to know what James Harden eats after a triple-double. They want to see Jaylen Brown’s workout routine.
This series is a pillar of the NBA's global expansion strategy. By partnering with Netflix, they are reaching people who might not even watch basketball but love a good "human interest" story. It’s smart business. It builds brands for the players that last longer than their playing careers.
Take Kevin Durant as an example.
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Durant is already a legend. He doesn't "need" the show. But by participating in Starting 5 Season 2, he’s curating his legacy. He’s showing the world his obsessive process. For a guy who has often been misunderstood by the media, this is a chance to take the mic back without a moderator in the way.
What to watch for in the episodes
When the season finally drops, pay attention to the editing. The show creators, including Omaha Productions (Peyton Manning's group), are masters at finding "the thread."
In Season 1, the thread was the "Passing of the Torch" from LeBron to the younger generation. In this upcoming season, the theme seems to be "Identity."
- Harden finding his identity as a veteran leader.
- Brown finding his identity as a champion.
- SGA finding his identity as a global superstar.
- Haliburton finding his identity as the face of a franchise.
- Durant... well, Durant just being the purest version of himself.
It's going to be a wild ride. The NBA season is long, grueling, and filled with unexpected injuries and drama. If you thought the first season was intense, wait until you see the pressure of the 2025 playoffs through the eyes of these five men.
Next Steps for Fans and Viewers
To get the most out of the upcoming season, keep a close eye on the social media feeds of the featured players during the current NBA schedule. You will often see the Netflix camera crews in the background of "trench" videos or post-game interviews.
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Additionally, if you haven't finished the first season, go back and watch the Jimmy Butler episodes. They provide the best context for the level of honesty the showrunners are looking for. Watch for the official trailer to drop during the 2025 NBA Finals, as that is usually where the high-gloss marketing campaign begins. Keep your Netflix notifications on for "Sports" categories, as they often drop "bonus clips" or "first looks" months before the actual premiere to gauge audience sentiment toward specific player arcs.