スラムダンク
Slam Dunk - Episode Highlights
Episode Highlights
The Genius Basketball Player Is Born!?
The series premiere introduces Hanamichi Sakuragi, a heartbroken delinquent who has been rejected by 50 girls. He meets Haruko Akagi, who asks him the fateful question: "Do you like basketball?" This episode perfectly sets up Sakuragi's motivation and his comedic, clueless entry into the world of basketball.
This episode is the foundation for the entire series. It establishes the main character's initial premise—joining a sport he knows nothing about for a girl—and introduces the central relationships and rivalries that will drive the narrative.
Hisashi Mitsui: The Man of the Past
This episode delves into the backstory of Hisashi Mitsui. After he and his gang invade the gym to fight the team, Kogure reveals Mitsui's history as a star player who quit due to injury. It's a pivotal episode that adds depth and tragedy to a character previously seen only as a villain.
It begins the transformation of Mitsui from an antagonist into one of the series' most beloved and complex protagonists, establishing the powerful theme of redemption.
I Want to Play Basketball!
The climax of the gym fight. When Coach Anzai appears, Mitsui breaks down and delivers his iconic line, "Coach Anzai... I want to play basketball." It's a deeply emotional moment that solidifies his decision to return to the team.
This episode marks the completion of the core Shohoku lineup. Mitsui's return provides the team with a crucial long-range shooter and completes one of the most compelling character arcs in sports anime history.
Shohoku vs. Ryonan: The Fated Showdown
The conclusion of the intense final qualifying match against Ryonan. The game goes down to the wire, showcasing the growth of every player. Sakuragi makes a critical mistake but also a game-saving play, highlighting his development from a liability to a key player under pressure.
This match determines which team goes to the National Championship. The victory is the culmination of the team's journey throughout the prefectural tournament and solidifies Shohoku as a genuine national contender.
For the Nationals!
Shohoku plays their final, decisive game of the prefectural tournament against Ryonan. The match is incredibly intense, with Akagi playing through a severe ankle injury. Sakuragi makes a game-winning dunk at the buzzer, but it's an illegal play that doesn't count, yet he manages to save the game in another way, showing his growth in game sense.
This game solidifies Shohoku's spot in the Nationals. It's a testament to their resilience and growth, with every character pushing past their limits. It is the culmination of the anime's primary arc.
Glory of the Shohoku
The final episode of the anime series. It depicts the Shohoku team departing for the National Championships. It serves as an open-ended conclusion, showing the team ready to face their next great challenge.
This episode concludes the anime adaptation, famously stopping before the manga's final and most celebrated arc, the National Tournament itself. It leaves the audience with a sense of anticipation and cements the series' focus on the journey of becoming a team rather than the ultimate outcome.