Domantas Sabonis Features in Upcoming Netflix Documentary Series

NBA star Domantas Sabonis is among the five prominent basketball players featured in Netflix’s “Starting 5” documentary series. Growing up in Spain, Sabonis did not become an avid follower of American football, which makes his participation in a series akin to “Hard Knocks” an intriguing turn. Initially hesitant about joining the project, Sabonis expressed his reservations about the limelight, stating, “I’m a private guy. I don’t need the spotlight. I just want to win.” He shared these sentiments with Front Office Sports.

Besides Sabonis, the series profiles four other NBA stars: LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards, and Jayson Tatum. The documentary, set to premiere on October 9, provides an intimate depiction of these athletes’ lives off the court. Sabonis commented on the unexpected nature of being constantly on camera, saying, “You don’t expect the camera to be so on you as much. You don’t know what’s coming until you experience it.”

Sabonis, whose father, Arvydas, played in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers during the 1990s, hopes the series will give fans a deeper understanding of a player’s life. He remarked on the unique opportunity the series presents, stating, “This is giving you a real deep behind-the-scenes look of what players do on their off days, what they sacrifice, and what they do to take care of their bodies.”

Alongside discussing the documentary, Sabonis weighed in on the NBA’s new media deal, potential league expansion, and the forthcoming season. The series promises to offer viewers unprecedented access to the personal lives and routines of some of basketball’s elite, showcasing how they balance the strenuous demands of their profession with personal time.