Sacramento Kings big man Domantas Sabonis stars in the new Netflix series Starting 5, offering a behind-the-scenes look at his life.
The show is the NBA’s version of Drive to Survive (Formula 1 racing) or Break Point (tennis) and it provides a fascinating look at players around the league.
Sabonis stars alongside LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum, and Anthony Edwards. He recently attended the Netflix premiere of the show in Los Angeles and spoke to us about the screening.
“It was a great experience,” Sabonis told USA TODAY’s For The Win. “I’m honored to be a part of it. I’m excited for the fans to really get a deep look. I feel like the fans know what we do on our personal Instagram stories but this is stuff like you wake up and there is a camera in your face. You’re not doing that on social media.”
These included private moments like dressing up for Halloween as Big Bird from Sesame Street as his son, Tiger Sabonis, was Cookie Monster.
Fans will also see him in his beautiful home picking tomatoes with his wife and spending quality time with his family as he reckons with what it was like to have his father Arvydas Sabonis play in the NBA.
On the court, the show captures him while he is mic’d up and actively calling out plays on both ends of the floor, setting hard screens and establishing real leadership traits.
Here is more from his conversation with USA TODAY’s For The Win. The show will premiere via Netflix on October 9.
This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
What were your impressions of the screening and watching yourself?
Sabonis: It’s scary, you know? I’ve never done that. So I was trying to melt into my seat while we were watching. But it’s really cool. People are going to see another side of me that they do not know. They probably know me as the guy they hate on the Kings when I play against their team. They think I’m just a bruiser who plays hard every game. Now they’re going to see this husband and family side of me and it’s going to give it a different light. I think it went well. The feedback from the theater: Everyone was cheering and laughing, you know? It felt really good and it was my first experience on a red carpet and seeing a screening. It felt real and the hype was there.
What inspired you to participate in Starting 5?
Sabonis: When they asked me to participate, it was kind of a no-brainer and it was an honor to be a part of that list. I feel like a lot of people in the NBA do not know about me as much as they should. I’ve been in the league for a while now. I wanted to shine a light on Sacramento as an organization and see what’s really going on there, we’ve got a good thing going with the culture. We’ve changed the franchise the last couple of years. It’s for people to see and dive into my life and the Kings and all of that. It’s a behind the scenes look. It shows every player’s personality on and off the court and the way they play. They really talk about your body and how you take care of it. I use my body a lot so I have to take care of it more. They really show all those little details behind the scenes.
What is it like to get filmed for Netflix?
Sabonis: It was definitely the most cameras I had on me. Every day, you wake up, it’s in your face. You go to the bathroom, they’re there. You go on a family vacation during NBA All-Star Weekend, they are on the plane with you. It’s more than any person might ever think. You do not really get a break. But it was definitely a lot of fun. It took some time getting used to and then it happened smoothly. We have kids at home and we are just trying to be the best parents for our kids. Everything was just very natural. I think it was just the first couple of days we filmed, it was definitely strange. They’re there: How do you act? Do you look at the camera? On the court, we are used to having cameras all the time. Off the court, our kid made it so easy because you are basically catering them. They are your one focus and then you basically act normal.
What was something unexpected that made it in the show?
Sabonis: Inside my home and what we do daily. I’m kind of a private guy and to be able to show everybody the amount of things I do, they will wonder: How is he doing this before a game? You will see. I’m doing stuff with my kids. It works for me. I put my family first. Every day in my life, I focus on my family. So when they came, my kids were there. My son Tiger loved being in front of the camera. He was trying to be the star of the show. At first, he was a bit worried about the cameras. But then he got comfortable with them. Netflix had the same crew with them for like 90 percent of the time. So we got friendly and he knew everyone by then. Then on the court, you put a lot of time into the game. Before and after a workout, I might have two hours of treatment time. You think you’re going to go shoot for an hour. It is a block of five or six hours just for one workout. You have get your body right, mobility, all that stuff. Everyone gets to see all of the full routines and how much they do to get ready. Everyone knows LeBron comes in five hours early. But that is what he needs to get ready. It’s cool to see people get ready.
How is your story different from the other four stories portrayed in Starting 5?
Sabonis: You get to see every player’s perspective and it’s really cool how you see the difference between all five players. When you think about it, you go through all the steps with each story. Like, what Anthony Edwards is doing and having fun: That was me before I met my wife. Spending time with my friends and playing video games, then as you get older in the NBA, you see LeBron’s story. He is focusing on different things and what is important to him. I feel like we are all going through such different stages. There are a lot of funny guys out there. There are a lot of personalities. We obviously know the personalities, but this is behind-the-scenes with the loved ones. Everyone opens up when they are in their own space. If you have your boys behind you or your family by you, you are going to act your true self. The cameras get that.
How was it to have DeMar DeRozan at the premiere and how will he help your team?
Sabonis: It was awesome. He hit me up before and he was like: Let’s get some workouts in. Can I come to the premiere and support you? I was like for sure. That’s sick to have him locked in like that already. It already shows how much he cares. He is coming here to take us to the next level. He has a veteran presence. He knows what it takes to win and go far. Our issue was basically us being mentally locked in for a game. We beat all the best teams and lost to the lower seeded teams, which put us in a tough position. He has been around. He is so smart and has a high IQ in basketball. I’ve learned a lot through him just by working out with him a couple weeks in L.A., so he’s going to have that same effect on everyone. We’re all going to grow just by having him around us.
What impact will DeRozan have on the floor spacing in Sacramento?
Sabonis: I think it’s going to be great. Teams have their best defender. Who are they going to choose: Fox or DeMar? The other one is going to go off then and he is going to help everyone else get open. Me and Fox work great. We have it great. We are not selfish. You rock. I rock. Whatever you want. We just want to win at the end of the day. Speaking to DeMar, he is just like that. He just wants to win. He is manipulating the game to get the easiest buckets, whatever he can do to help the team. I’m very excited. We worked out a couple weeks and it’s a lot of fun.
Should the NBA consider Team USA vs. Team World in the All-Star Game?
Sabonis: That would be awesome. That would be very cool. I don’t know if we’re still going to play hard or if it will just be the same thing if it were USA versus the World. I can’t control that. I don’t know how to play in an All-Star Game. To me, those games are tough because I just play hard. I don’t know how to be just chilling out there. The fans want to see that. If that happens and it is a real game, that would be cool.
What is future of basketball in Lithuania?
Sabonis: I think it is big. We have a lot of good, young prospects. Matas Buzelis is a good rookie for the Bulls. We have a lot of good, young guys in college. Guys are on the top teams in Lithuania and that are most likely going to com9e over to college and do that experience. I feel like everyone is doing that because of NIL. I’m happy they’re going to come out. I personally took the route of going to college basketball. It’s definitely the best decision and now you can get paid to do it. So I think it’s a no-brainer.
Why did you play college basketball?
Sabonis: I loved the idea of playing college basketball in a full arena and the live environment. But what really sold me is that in Europe, it is really hard to get gym access 24/7. I’m a worker. I like to go in and shoot any time of the night and any time of the day. Being on a college campus, you have access to the main courts around campus with rebounders available. I feel like that is what made me take the next step and get drafted and put me to where I am today. I would tell a European prospect you can always come back to your home team. Whatever you do in college, if you don’t get drafted in the NBA, the same team that wanted you will still want you in Europe. You aren’t losing anything. If anything, you’re getting a degree and learning a new language and you’re getting exposure. There are so many options for you to head over instead of just staying home.
What are your thoughts on Gonzaga in the Pac-12?
Sabonis: I’ve been hearing all of this. I think it’s insane! I grew up when it was Pac-12, WCC. Now, it’s like Big 12 and Big Ten and they’re all mixed together. It’s crazy to me. It’s definitely going to be tougher for Gonzaga. Everyone gets used to what’s comfortable with what they have. It’s definitely going to be more challenging, especially the first years. It’s going to be definitely fun to watch. I was happy, though. The thing with the WCC: You had amazing cities to go visit. So that was a plus side. Now, it’s a bit different.
Is there much of a Gonzaga brotherhood in the NBA?
Sabonis: Yeah. I’m closer to the guys closer to my age like Kelly Olynyk and Rui Hachimura and Zach Collins. But as the years go on, it’s cool seeing how many more Zags are in the NBA. When I came in the league, it was just me and Kelly. You see all these other conferences, they are all dapping each other up because there are three guys on every team. Gonzaga has finally made its way toward that. I think that just how far the program has gone.
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