"Is this man on drugs?" - NBA fans react to Lauri Markkanen rejecting role alongside LeBron James in Netflix’s 'Starting 5'

Netflix's docuseries "Starting 5" could have starred Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen. However, according to the Finnish star, he turned down the opportunity to star in it. Instead, the show featured Anthony Edwards, Domantas Sabonis, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler and LeBron James.

The series followed the lives of these five stars through the 2023-24 season and spanned 10 episodes.

Some fans who read the news regarding Markkanen's refusal questioned his choice.

"Is this man on drugs?" One fan asked.

"Sucker move by Lauri Markkanen. No one will remember you when it’s over. This could’ve helped you cement a little bit of legacy," one fan chimed in.

"N***** just love turning down anything good for his career," one person said.

Meanwhile, other fans lauded the Finnish star for his decision to not take part in "Starting 5."

"Real hooper. no shows, no commercials, just going out there balling," one fan said.

"Good, he's not a clout chaser," another fan said.

"No drama. No fame hunting. Just a genuine guy," another person posted.

Last season was an interesting one for Markkanen as it was filled with conflicting reports. His name constantly popped up in trade rumors and was linked to the Golden State Warriors on multiple occasions.

However, other reports suggested that the Utah Jazz wanted to keep Markkanen as a cornerstone piece. The rumors surrounding him were finally laid to rest when he signed a five-year, $238 million deal.

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Lauri Markkanen explained his decision to decline a role in Netflix's "Starting 5"

Lauri Markkanen's decision to decline a role in "Starting 5" was revealed on Deseret News. In an article by Sarah Todd, Markkanen said that he did not want to have more people than necessary in the team's locker room.

He also said that his personality would not have been a match for the show and that he wanted to focus on playing basketball.

Additionally, Markkanen said that his family is quite private. As such, having a camera crew around would have disrupted that.

Statistically, Markkanen had a fantastic season in 2023-24. He averaged 23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists. As the team's number one option, he shot 48.0% from the field on 16.2 attempts per game. He was also lethal from behind the 3-point line, making 39.9% on 8.0 attempts.

These stats were not far from his production in 2022-23, when he made his only All-Star team (25.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.9 apg).

Despite finding success on a personal level, his team, the Jazz, struggled to win consistently. The team only won 31 games (31-51) and finished 12th in the Western Conference. They were 10 wins behind the Houston Rockets who finished the season with a 41-41 record.