Netflix Cancels Obama-Produced Show After 2 Seasons

Even serious star power wasn’t enough to keep this Netflix series alive.

Netflix has officially canceled “Starting 5,” the NBA docu-series produced by former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama, and NBA legend LeBron James.

The series debuted in 2024 and followed the season-long journeys of five NBA stars at a time, offering behind-the-scenes access to their professional and personal lives. Season 1 featured players including LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Season 2 shifted focus to stars such as Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Despite the high-profile names involved, viewership reportedly dropped sharply. According to What’s on Netflix, Season 1 pulled in about 4.6 million views between July and December 2024, then fell to roughly 1 million views during the first half of 2025.

Those numbers pale in comparison to other sports docu-series on the platform. Netflix’s NFL series “Quarterback” reportedly drew 12.7 million views in its opening period, while Formula 1 hit “F1: Drive to Survive” attracted around 10.4 million views during a similar timeframe. Netflix has not officially confirmed these figures.

According to Sports Business Journal, internal Netflix data showed “Starting 5” significantly trailing “Quarterback” during the second half of 2024, with that gap believed to have continued as both shows released their second seasons in 2025. Netflix has not released detailed viewing metrics for “Starting 5,” which is often the case for underperforming titles.

As a result, there will be no third season. Netflix has quietly ended the series, with no plans for future episodes.

While “Starting 5” failed to find a large enough audience, both seasons remain available to stream on Netflix for fans who still want a closer look at some of the NBA’s biggest stars.