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Netflix Set To Release New NBA Series Following Multiple 2023-24 All-Stars
NBA fans will get a new behind-the-scenes look at a few All-Star players in a few months. Netflix is set to release a new sports series that is called Starting 5 and it will follow five NBA players both on and off the court from the 2023-24 season.
The five players included in this will be forward LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, guard Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, forward Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat, forward Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics, and center Domantas Sabonis of the Sacramento Kings.
Each of these players will give a glimpse into their lives off the court, as well as the preparation while playing the game that they love. Netflix has seen a rise in popularity in this type of show after it released two NFL versions of it, Quarterback and Receiver.
James has been one of the more popular players in the NBA since his debut back in the 2003 season. Entering his record 22nd season in the NBA, James will get to show fans another side of him before he retires.
He has hinted at retirement in each of the last few offseasons, so putting him in the first ideation of this series makes a lot of sense. James is arguably the greatest player of all-time, and will surely bring in a wide swath of fans.
Tatum just helped the Celtics win their record 18th NBA title so the series will likely revolve around that. He has seen a rise in popularity over the years, cementing himself as one of the more pure scorers in the NBA.
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 28: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers shake hands during overtime at TD Garden on January 28, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts.... BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 28: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers shake hands during overtime at TD Garden on January 28, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. Tatum and James are set to star in a new Netflix sports series. More Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty ImagesButler has emerged as one of the bigger characters in the NBA, with fans loving his antics each season. For example, this past season, Butler took on the persona of "Emo Jimmy" and fans loved it.
The series will show how he approaches each game and how the Heat tried to come back from another loss in the NBA Finals.
Edwards has turned himself into one of the better trash-talkers around the NBA. He helped the Timberwolves reach the Western Conference Finals and people will make sure to watch to see how he is off the court.
Sabonis might prove to be the most calm of the five players on camera. But he is a killer on the court.
The second-generation star has carved out a nice career for himself, making three All-Star teams. Fans will likely want to learn more about him from this show.
Each of the five players gives the show a unique vibe and like the previous NFL series, this should be a hit among fans.
More news: Former NBA Champion Takes Shot at Legend Ray Allen's Career
NBA Fantasy: Guard Tiers For 2024-25 Season
Looking at the guards heading into 2024-25, it is clear that there is absolutely no shortage of talent. Below are 35 of the top NBA guards ranked in tiers.
Tier 1
Luka Doncic looks poised for another dominant season in Dallas.
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks: Doncic is coming off the best season of his already impressive career, as he averaged a career-high and league-high 33.9 points per game while leading the Mavericks to his first NBA Finals appearance in 2023-24. Doncic is primed to continue competing at the highest level and heads into the season as one of the most feared players on the court.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder: Gilgeous-Alexander ranked third in the league with 30.1 points per game and tied for second with a career-best 2.0 steals per game last season. He also set a new career-high with 6.2 assists per game. Gilgeous-Alexander does a great job pushing the pace for the high-energy Thunder squad and helped the team average the league's third-most points per game last season.
Tier 2
Stephen Curry averaged 25.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists last season.
Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana Pacers: Haliburton helped lead the Pacers to their first playoff series win in a decade by feeding the offense with a career-high and league-best 10.9 assists per game. He also averaged 20.1 points and 1.2 steals per game. Haliburton has the benefit of running it back with mostly the same core, plus a full offseason to build even more chemistry with Pascal Siakam.
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves: Edwards is emerging as one of the most exciting and dominant players in the league, and he's increased his scoring averages in each of his four seasons. He had one of his most complete seasons of his career during the 2023-24 campaign, averaging a career-high 25.9 points and 5.1 assists to go with 5.4 rebounds per game, showing that he's capable of producing outside of the scoring column for the league's highest-producing offenses.
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors: Curry is coming off his fourth consecutive season averaging at least 25.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. He will have a new scene to get used to in the backcourt without Klay Thompson, but Curry remains the best scorer on the roster and will have to continue to lead the charge on the offensive end.
De'Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings: Fox played the second-most games of his career last season and averaged career-high marks of 26.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game. He will have the benefit of playing alongside prolific scorer DeMar DeRozan in 2024-25, which should help open up the floor and allow Fox to further thrive in his role.
Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns: Booker is coming off his sixth consecutive season averaging more than 25.5 points per game, and his second straight season averaging more than 27.0. With an elite scorer like Kevin Durant at his side, Booker has the opportunity to benefit from less defensive focus and to continue to find his shots. He also does a good job contributing across the stat sheet and racking up stats on both ends of the floor.
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers: Maxey took another major leap forward last season, averaging career-high marks of 37.5 minutes, 25.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks per game. He heads into the fifth year of his career ready to continue to emerge as one of the best point guards in the league. He also has the additional benefit of now playing alongside another All-Star after the 76ers acquired Paul George during the offseason.
Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks: Young has averaged at least 25.3 points and 9.3 assists per game in each of the last five seasons. He was limited to a career-low 54 games played last season, mostly due to missing about six weeks of action late in the season with a finger injury, but he was able to average 30.8 minutes per game over his final four appearances of the campaign. After two years playing next to Dejounte Murray, he will have to return to a definitive lead role in the backcourt and handle a major load offensively.
Tier 3
Jalen Brunson had a career-best season with New York in 2023-24.
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks: Brunson is coming off a brilliant season, as he averaged career highs of 28.7 points and 6.7 assists. He did a fantastic job of carrying the squad when Julius Randle went down for the season and managed to lead the Knicks to the second round of the playoffs. However, with Randle back and the addition of Mikal Bridges to the roster, it is likely that Brunson's scoring could decrease during the 2024-25 campaign.
Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks: Lillard is set to enter his second season with the Bucks. His scoring average dipped by nearly eight points per game in his debut season with the squad compared to the previous year, but he is likely to have a better rhythm entering the new campaign thanks to a full offseason of preparation and building continuity. This is also the squad's first offseason under coach Doc Rivers, who took over the job in January 2024.
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers: After averaging career highs of 28.3 points and 48.4 percent shooting from the field in 2022-23, Mitchell took a step back by averaging 26.6 points on 46.2 percent shooting last season. However, he also set new career highs with 5.1 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.5 blocks per game in 2023-24. Mitchell remains one of the smoothest scorers in the league and should continue to thrive as the Cavaliers' top offensive option heading into his third season with the squad.
James Harden, LA Clippers: In comparison to the previous season, Harden's numbers decreased significantly almost across the board in 2023-24. However, with the departure of Paul George, Harden will have to step back into a role more in line with what he has done throughout his career as one of the best scorers in NBA history. He should also see an uptick in his assist numbers with the ball in his hands more often.
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons: Despite a tough season for the Pistons in 2023-24, Cunningham kept his head up and delivered high-level play on a consistent basis, posting double-digit scoring totals in 57 of his 62 appearances while averaging a career-high 22.7 points per game. He also set a new career-high mark with 7.5 assists per game and logged 14 double-doubles. Cunningham remains on an upward trajectory and could help carry the Pistons' young core to a better result in 2024-25.
LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets: Ball had his last two seasons cut short by injury but continued to show his potential as a high-level scorer and distributor when healthy. He remains in position to grow and prosper alongside notable offensive contributors such as Brandon Miller and Miles Bridges, and he will have the green light to let his shot fly as a career 37.4 percent three-point shooter.
Tier 4
Ja Morant played only nine games with Memphis last season.
Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks: Irving thrived in his first full season with the Mavericks, averaging 25.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He has hit a minimum of 49.0 percent of his attempts from the field in three of the last four seasons and is able to pick his spots as a calculated and experienced contributor.
Paul George, Philadelphia 76ers: George is set to debut for his fourth NBA franchise in what will be his 15th season in the league after signing with the 76ers over the summer. He averaged 23.1 points per game over his five seasons with the Clippers and will likely find himself in a similar role in Philadelphia while playing alongside a pair of All-Star teammates, allowing him to not have to force his game.
Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies: After being limited to just nine games last season, Morant remains one of the most anticipated players coming into the new campaign. He's shown incredible leaps in his play over the last few seasons and earned a reputation as one of the most dominant point guards in the league. He could easily be ranked higher in his top form, but due to having been sidelined for so long, it could take him some time to get back to push for new highs.
Dejounte Murray, New Orleans Pelicans: After two seasons with the Hawks, Murray joins a well-rounded and dynamic Pelicans core, where he should be able to flourish in a distribute-first role. Nonetheless, he averaged at least 20.5 points per game in each of the last three seasons and is likely to maintain his scoring touch as part of one of the most efficient offenses from last season.
Immanuel Quickley, Toronto Raptors: The sky's the limit for Quickley, who enters his first full season as the definitive starting point guard for the Raptors. He showed flashes of brilliance down the stretch last season and is on a trajectory to stuff the stat sheet in his new role.
Tier 5
Darius Garland looks to bounce back after an up-and-down season with Cleveland.
Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets: VanVleet put together a solid season in his first year with the Rockets and has all the tools around him to continue to shine as a consistent distributor and occasional breakout scorer.
Derrick White, Boston Celtics: White proved himself as one of the most versatile and clutch guards in the league last season.
Coby White, Chicago Bulls: White took a major leap last year and is a strong candidate to take another step forward during his sixth NBA season after the Bulls moved on from DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso during the offseason.
Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers: Garland saw some of his averages take a dip last season but remains a reliable contributor in his role.
Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies: Bane is coming off a season interrupted by injury trouble for himself and the whole Grizzlies squad, but he has proven capable of being a solid contributor with 41.5 percent three-point shooting over his first four professional seasons.
Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets: Murray averaged 21.2 points and 6.5 assists per game last season and should continue to thrive with help from great chemistry among the Nuggets' core.
CJ McCollum, New Orleans Pelicans: McCollum took care of most of the ball handling last season but will be able to focus more as a scorer now that he will be playing alongside Dejounte Murray.
Tier 6 – Honorable Mentions
New NBA Photography Book Puts Nathaniel S. Butler's Iconic Work In Focus
"Courtside: 40 Years of NBA Photography" by Nathaniel S. Butler will be released on Sept. 24.
Most NBA fans, even casuals, have seen the iconic portrait of the league's "Lord of the Rings," Bill Russell. Striking? Certainly. Unforgettable? Think again.
What many folks will remember — Russell wearing 11 championship rings from his Boston Celtics' 1957-69 dynastic run — isn't actually in that photograph. Only seven rings adorn the 62-year-old Russell's fingers in that 1996 photo, and even getting that many posed a problem the day Nathaniel S. Butler shot the image in New York as part of the "NBA at 50" commemoration.
The famous 1996 photo of Bill Russell posing with just some of "his" 11 championship rings.
"That was a crazy story because they didn't get rings back in those days for every year they won the championship," Butler said, talking about the upcoming hardbound collection of his life's work, "COURTSIDE: 40 Years of NBA Photography" (Abrams Books).
"After you got a ring or two, they gave guys different gifts. I wanted to know, well, what did they get? … It was very hard to find what was truth and what was folklore. But they got cuff links one year," Butler said. "Another year they got a watch. Somebody said — and you can't separate truth from fiction at this point — that the Celtics had a deal one year with Zenith, so one year, guys got a Zenith TV. I was like, 'Wait, what?! Hopefully they got more than that.'
"So for the Russell picture, we borrowed other players' rings to signify all 11."
But who's counting, right? The winningest player in major North American team sports is featured prominently, along with most of the NBA's other legendary players, in Butler's handsome and hefty collection. It's due out Sept. 24 and serves as both a swell gift idea and as a photographic archive of the league, all seen through the lenses of one of its premier photographers.
With forewords by NBA commissioner Adam Silver and Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing, the book includes text by reporter Dave McMenamin and an afterword by film director Spike Lee. Most of all, it is crammed with some of the most famous, stunning and/or illuminating photos of pro basketball's biggest stars and memorable moments. Many saw light as magazine covers. Others became posters tacked to kids' bedroom walls or became trading cards.
More than 50 of the featured performers contribute commentary. As does Butler, providing a connection between the shot and the shooter — on the court or crouched down on the baseline, in his customary vantage point — in what for all concerned often is a make-or-miss league.
Butler, universally known throughout the NBA as "Nat," recently spoke with NBA.Com about the book, his four decades in the league and the back stories to some of the remarkable pictures.
Roots of this project
Don't get it twisted, this book is not a retirement capper on the man's career.
"People kept asking me, 'When are you going to do it?' But it always drives me that I'm never satisfied. I'm always looking for the next 'best' shot," Butler said. "So I could never do a book because my best was yet to come. That was my thinking anyway."
The lull brought by the COVID lockdowns in 2020, though, gave Butler an excuse and time. He was heading toward the round number of 40 years on this job.
"Then when I would talk to people, they'd say things like, 'I didn't know you took that shot.' and 'Oh, you took that shot?' So it was a combination of things, to where putting together a 'greatest hits' album made some sense."
Butler's early influences
Butler grew up in Montauk, N.Y., on Long Island, playing basketball and buying his first camera at age 12. His hoops limitations and his passion for photography diverged during four years at St. John's University. That's when he fully embraced the craft.
"I grew up literally running to the mailbox each week to get Sports Illustrated, to look at the photos," he said. "Frank Deford, Curry Kirkpatrick, all of those writers that they had, too. And then I worked at Sports Illustrated as an apprentice and learned so much from their literal masters. Crazy talented. And I was just so fortunate, the timing of that, to learn from those guys was priceless."
When Butler began with the NBA, the league didn't even have an official photo department. So he and Andrew Bernstein started one. David Stern, just down the hall from Butler's first office, was about to become commissioner. Michael Jordan was up next, entering the league with the Draft class of 1984.
Technology, then and now
Butler and Bernstein — the former mostly on the East Coast, the latter out West — developed some of the innovative lighting techniques needed to capture the speed and artistry of NBA action. Over the same time frame, photography morphed from its history grounded in film to modern digital options.
The first half of Butler's career, he worked almost exclusively in film. Since then, it's been mostly pixels and gigabytes.
"I used to shoot a Knicks game, drop film off at the lab, go have a burger or a slice of pizza waiting two hours to get the film developed," Butler said.
One of his favorite early photos was a shot of Magic Johnson's "junior, junior sky hook" in Game 4 of the 1987 Finals against Boston.
Magic Johnson shoots his memorable "junior, junior sky hook" in Game 4 of the 1987 NBA Finals.
"Back then I was shooting black-and-white NBA PR, because newspapers used all black-and-white photos in those days," Butler said. "I would run to the hotel and stay up all night developing the film, hoping I got the picture."
Butler turned his hotel bathrooms into makeshift darkrooms.
"Now at games, I hit the button and it goes to Secaucus [headquarters for NBA Entertainment]. We have a team of editors, and there are 80 million followers on NBA Instagram or wherever who get the pictures 40 seconds later."
Players: passive subjects to eager participants
Getting players to comment on Butler's photos or recall the specifics of a play or a session breathes life into the book's pages. He and McMenamin worked for a season and a half gathering the reactions and quotes.
Among the comments:
Giannis Antetokounmpo: "I remember this one. … I had to take off from the free-throw line to protect myself because I thought [the defender] was going to hit me in the air. … This is the first time I've seen this angle of the picture — Nat takes cool pictures, man."
Giannis Antetokounmpo soars in for a dunk during Game 1 of the 2019 playoffs vs. Detroit.
Jason Kidd: "Ooh man, I was young. That's pretty cool. It's kind of out of focus [an effect used to suggest motion], kind of like my game. Blur. That's an incredible photo."
Jason Kidd poses for a portrait during NBA All-Star weekend in 2004.
Stephon Marbury: "When I look at this image, I see the photographer, the man, the person when he captured the moment — he actually got on the ground and he was measuring the perfect angle to shoot at. He made it look like I was floating through the sky."
Stephon Marbury drives to the basket during the 1996 NBA Rookie Photo Shoot in Orlando, Fla.
Patrick Ewing: "It felt like every major moment of my career, I'd turn around and Nat would be there."
Patrick Ewing celebrates with the crowd during a 1994 game at Madison Square Garden.
Said Butler: "Tim Duncan was one of my favorite players. But I didn't even attempt to talk to him. Y'know, it's not his thing. I got a couple of quotes from Pop having to do with him, and that was huge for me."
Capturing the NBA at 50 & 75
Butler wasn't around for the league's first four decades, but the celebrations in 1996-97 and 2021-22 allowed him to go retro. That got some of the game's early legends into the book.
"I shot a portrait of Wilt Chamberlain at the famous Kutsher's summer camp [in the Catskills]. I shot Willis Reed and the old Knicks. That was a thrill. And that's when we did the Bill Russell with the rings," he said.
The NBA 75th Anniversary Team poses for a photo before the 2022 All-Star Game in Cleveland.
"I recall Adam said, back when we did the NBA at 50 portraits, that the league was so fortunate, with all of its 'Babe Ruths' still with us. Then you fast-forward to Cleveland again 25 years later and even since then, a number of guys have passed away and it's very humbling. None of us can turn the clock back."
NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain poses for a photo in 1996.
Making the cuts
Readers with rooting interests invariably will notice that some of their favorites got more attention in the book than others. Antetokounmpo gets eight pages, Nikola Jokic five, Luka Doncic two. Vince Carter's exploits are displayed across eight, as are Kyrie Irving's and Ewing's.
Much of that, as you might expect in a collection of photos, is exposure: Butler works most of the NBA regular season out of Madison Square Garden in New York and Barclays Center in Brooklyn. But the images, the moments, drove their selection for the book more than the performers.
May as well fan some flames here for endless barroom and Internet debates to note that the book features LeBron James on 14 pages and Michael Jordan on 12. On the court, in studios and in locker rooms.
LeBron James poses with a sign after surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record on Feb. 7, 2023.
"There was no rhyme or reason," Butler said with a laugh. "It's just that, those particular guys, I could have had 50 pages each."
"Once LeBron went to the Lakers, I didn't see him a whole lot. I did want to go to his game when he broke the [career points] record. We re-created the famous Wilt '100 points' photo, and he was very amenable to doing that.
"There are a million Jordan images, but I also like to break it up — I didn't want every shot to be a dunk. There's one of him driving around Shaq and Shaq is towering over him, with Michael looking like he's 5-6 instead of 6-6."
Michael Jordan drives to the basket against Shaquille O'Neal and the Magic in a 1995 playoff game.
Players' league, people business
Butler has a lengthy list of acknowledgments in the book.
"We've been fortunate to see a lot of great moments, but you remember the people," he said. "Coaches have been great when I've been in their locker rooms, being a fly on the wall.
"We're all in the moment working very hard, players and all of us. Sometimes you need to take a step back. For me, a lot of times, it's the guys near the end of their careers where they're a little more vocal about [appreciating] the work. There's a level of rapport and professionalism that you've built up over the years."
Butler has knocked on doors at players' homes for a scheduled shoot and, upon entering, seen many of his photographs on display.
"That's always very humbling," he said. "Everybody loves the handshake with Adam and back in the day David Stern when they first got drafted. And they all have encyclopedic memories of different [game] moments."
One that got away …
While Butler has been a witness to NBA history, snapping his tales 1,000 words at a click, some tales have been told better than others. Timing, vantage point, shadows and some opposing player's limbs or butt can make or break great photos.
"Honestly, at that time, it's a little bit of luck," he said. "You're prepared for anything but a little luck never hurts. … It's a live game. You don't get any do-overs."
When Jordan dribbled up court in Utah late in Game 6 of the 1998 Finals, for instance, he was headed straight toward Butler. Jordan faked out (pushed off?) the Jazz's Bryon Russell and sank the jumper that won Chicago's sixth championship and capped his Bulls career.
But the photo taken from the other baseline — with Butler visible and half-hidden behind his camera, to the right of Jeff Hornacek's knee — is the one that became famous as "The Last Shot." It is timeless, like a classic painting showing the faces of so many about-to-be heartbroken fans in Salt Lake City.
Michael Jordan celebrates his 6th championship after the Bulls won Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals.
"That was my thing, I always wanted Michael coming toward me in the second half," Butler said. "So I shot his winning shot but it's not even close to being as cool as the one from the other end of the court, where you see people's faces. They're looking in awe, in the context of the moment."
… And one that didn't
Butler was at the far end of the floor in Miami in 2013 when Ray Allen hit his stunning corner 3-pointer in Game 6 against San Antonio to avoid defeat and spin the Heat toward the NBA title two nights later. It wasn't a great location until it was, nailing arguably the most famous game-tying shot in league history (vying with Garfield Heard's 20-footer to force triple-overtime in Game 5 of the 1976 Finals).
Ray Allen hits the tying 3-pointer in Game 6 of the 2013 Finals against the Spurs.
Said Butler: "I'm waiting to pan over to get [coach Gregg Popovich] hugging Tim Duncan, they're putting the ropes up, and Ray hits that shot. OK, here we go!"
Playing favorites, and a sequel
Butler knew he couldn't please everyone with the photos he selected for the book, so he made sure to mostly please himself.
"I grew up a Knicks fan, so I always liked the [John] Starks' dunk or Patrick climbing up on the table and putting his arms up. I do like that Bill Russell rings picture, because of what a personality he was and how gracious he was."
John Starks soars for an iconic dunk vs. The Bulls in the 1993 NBA Playoffs.
But one of his most striking visuals came just last June when he caught and perfectly framed the hysteria at TD Garden after Game 5 in Boston. Immediately after the clinching victory, Butler caught Jayson Tatum hoisting his son "Deuce," perfectly framed against spray of confetti.
That one came too late. The publisher's deadline for the book had passed.
A keeper for Volume II?
"I was joking with some friends who are Knicks fans and said, 'My second one will be when the Knicks win the championship,' " Butler said. "There are a lot of photos that didn't make the cut that are in a folder on my computer. So we'll see how this one goes."
Don't forget, as Butler said, the next great shot still is out there.
* * *
Steve Aschburner has written about the NBA since 1980. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NBA, its clubs or Warner Bros. Discovery.
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