5 moments in the NBA doc series “Starting 5” that prove basketball gods are mere mortals

From 5 takes basketball fans into uncharted territory and showcases the tireless efforts of professional athletes to compete for a championship while also prioritizing their families and mental well-being. Showrunner Peter Scalettar says revealing the core motivations of LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards, Domontas Sabonis and Jayson Tatum will give fans an unprecedented perspective on the greatest players in basketball.

“Every part of it is insightful,” Scalettar tells Tudum. “Whether it’s in the dressing room or the living room, everything feels new and fresh. The NBA has not yet provided this type of access.”

Scalettar handled this access carefully, ensuring his team did not hinder the athletes’ efforts. “We don’t want to get in the way of their main goal, so the first hurdle is finding places where we can fit in and not be a distraction,” he says. “To be with a player on a game day and say, ‘I’m going to try not to make eye contact.’ As someone who is superstitious myself, I never wanted to do anything that could be perceived as a distraction.”

The other big challenge for Scalettar as a superfan was having to choose between the most compelling moments. “Everything is interesting to me,” he says, “regardless of whether you’re hanging out, [or] Making coffee in the house while the kids run around, or getting ready for Halloween, or heading out to a promo shoot for your new sneaker drop.”

Let’s delve into some of the fascinating behind-the-scenes looks From 5 Lives of the cast, starting with preparation for the spooky season.

LeBron James loves Halloween.

Take a look at James as he begins Beetlejuice Makeover to prepare for Halloween. “It’s by far my favorite holiday,” explains James, with green hair and a remarkably elaborate costume. The costume caused quite a stir when James shared it on social media along with his wife Savannah, who was in the game Beetlejuice theme with her Miss Argentina look.

Jimmy Butler shows off his barista skills.

Since he’s so busy conquering the basketball, who knows how capable Butler would have been as a barista. Still, he went into business with BIGFACE coffee and plans to open a brick-and-mortar location in Miami. Here you’ll see how much he loves cappuccinos as he makes several for himself throughout the day, complete with foam art.

Domantas Sabonis gives his family a winter wonderland.

With plans for a ski trip on hold while Sabonis is in the NBA, he has the snow delivered to his home and sleds down icy hills in a makeshift winter wonderland with his wife and kids. “If you don’t know me personally, you might think I’m kind of crazy or whatever the fans think I am on the court when I’m in the zone,” he tells Tudum. “Outside of basketball, I’m the complete opposite. I am a husband and father first and I just want to take care of my family.”

What motivated him to take part From 5? Represents the city he plays for. “We can put Sacramento on the map,” Sabonis said. “We don’t get a lot of national TV games, so we do it From 5People all over the world can see what we have built – all the effort the city and the organization put into building this franchise.”

Anthony Edwards on parenting.

Despite being considered a young, aspiring superstar in the NBA, Edwards has grown into a new parent embracing fatherhood. Here, Edwards discusses the ways in which it “takes a village” to raise a child and expresses his willingness to let others help when needed. And he has mastered separating his professional and private life. “I’m going here [to the court] and I’m one person, and when I come home I’m a different person,” Edwards says.

Jayson Tatum defies a doubter and talks about his Kobe Bryant fan base.

Tatum reminisced while watching Bryant’s games and highlights on YouTube and remembers telling a teacher that he wanted to be in the NBA one day. She told him to “be more realistic,” and his mother, Brandy Cole-Barnes, made sure he remembered the moment – the day he would prove that naysayer wrong.

For Tatum, it’s a big thrill to be there From 5 was that it allowed him to pull back the curtain on who he really was. “I wanted to give fans a glimpse into my life that I had never done before,” he says. “I knew it was going to be big.”

Tatum adds that people may not know what it takes to be an NBA player. “The mental aspect is just as demanding as the physical aspect,” he says. “It never gets too high or too low while I hold myself to the highest standards. That’s my job, but the perspective is knowing that my most important role is being a father. I think the series does a great job of showing the balance we need to maintain in our lives.”

The wait is over – From 5 is now streaming on Netflix.