Haliburton magic, KD and Harden on Rockets trade: Takeaways from Season 2 of Netflix's 'Starting 5'

The latest play of Netflix's "Starting 5" was released Thursday, offering caller perspectives connected memorable moments from the 2024-25 campaign.

The bid followed Oklahoma City Thunder defender Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Indiana Pacers defender Tyrese Haliburton, then-Phoenix Suns guardant Kevin Durant, LA Clippers defender James Harden and Boston Celtics guardant Jaylen Brown.

Each prima had his ain challenges past season, each revealed by Netflix's behind-the-scenes access.

"The Netflix radical are driving maine nuts," Pacers manager Rick Carlisle said astatine 1 point. "They're everywhere, you know, and it's a symptom successful the ass."

Durant dealt with injuries and commercialized speech that astir sent him to the Golden State Warriors. Haliburton fought done a midseason slump aft constricted enactment astatine the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. Brown's genu wounded was a setback for the Celtics successful their pursuit of winning back-to-back titles. Harden embarked connected different play seeking a championship, portion Gilgeous-Alexander's consistency fueled the Thunder's NBA rubric aspirations.

The result brought 2 of the season's stars to the biggest stage: Game 7 of the Finals.

Here are the apical takeaways from Season 2 of "Starting 5."

Trade to Houston inactive hurts Harden, Durant

The aboriginal days of the Oklahoma City Thunder paired 2 of the game's apical scorers connected 1 team: Durant and Harden. They were teammates for 3 seasons earlier the Thunder dealt Harden to the Houston Rockets successful 2012, propelling the defender to All-Star and MVP heights.

Even though the commercialized happened implicit a decennary ago, emotions are inactive earthy for Durant and Harden, who won Sixth Man of the Year that season. Alongside Russell Westbrook, the Thunder were coming disconnected a Finals tally successful which they mislaid successful 5 games to the Miami Heat.

Unable to scope a declaration extension, Oklahoma City traded Harden. He explained that it "wasn't astir nary existent money. It was a mates cardinal dollars."

Durant admitted helium didn't cognize what was going connected with Harden's declaration negotiations until the precise extremity and "never thought determination was a anticipation helium was leaving." He besides expressed choler astir the absorption leaguewide, with players posting congratulatory messages for Harden connected societal media.

"I was like, 'Shut the f--- up. Y'all conscionable was f---ing scared. Y'all knew we was connected the way." Durant said.

Harden echoed a akin sentiment.

"Overall, I was huffy arsenic hell, too," helium said. "Cause I got the call, and it's like, past determination was loss. These are my dawgs, similar you spot what we conscionable did these past 3 years? It was like, 'we're gonna triumph a title adjacent year.' ... I was hurt. It was sad, for real."

Durant said helium liked playing with Harden and helium misses it....