After being dumped by Yoko, a girl he really liked in Junior High, Sakuragi Hanamichi was devastated. On the first day of school, he was approached by a girl who asked him whether he likes basketball or not. He immediately said he loves it although he has no idea how to play the sport. His world is filled with hope again.

After Rukawa beats up those thugs, Hanamichi is shocked and asks him for his name. When he discovers that he is the one that Haruko has a crush on, he becaomes angry. Then, Haruko comes and helps Rukawa with his wounds, but he dismisses her and this makes Hanamichi very angry. Haruko mistakes Hanamichi for injuring Rukawa and she says that she hates Hanamichi. Hanamichi's world comes tumbling down again.

When Hanamichi calls basketball a 'dumb game', the captain of the basketball team challenges him because Hanamichi had made fun of his favorite game of all!

Sakuragi mananges to dunk over/through Akagi. Akagi is intrigued by Sakuragi's raw power, but doesn't think he's got the drive to make it on the team. Still, he ponders what the team would be like if he was to join.

Sakuragi Hanamichi has been training in the basics for two weeks under Ayako and he wants to play with the other. Akagi refused to let him play. Out of frustration, he quits the team. But after seeing Haruko's face, he changes his mind again.

Akagi decides to test Rukawa's skills against his own to see if Rukawa really has the talent everyone says he does.

After successfully persuading Anzai to let him join the game, Sakuragi shows how much he has improved in basic skills such as dribbling. But in the game, he refuses to pass the ball to Rukawa out of jealousy.

Impressed by Sakuragi's raw power and general brute force, the captain of the judo club tries to recruit him away from the Basketball team.

Sakuragi declines Aota's offer of joining the Judo club. Kogure and Ayako were overjoyed at Sakuragi's refusal and Akagi was very much impressed by Sakuragi's words.

After getting the permission to allow Sakuragi to learn the basics of shooting, Akagi asked Rukawa to demonstrate how to do lay-up shot. But Sakuragi got into a fight with Rukawa instead.

Having mastered dribbling and passing, Sakuragi moves on to shooting, which is a lot harder than he had anticipated. Frustrated by his lack of skil, Sakuragi gets some extra help from an unlikely source: Haruko.

The night before their game with Ryounan, Akagi decides to try and teach Sakuragi basic defense, starting with rebounding. Learning quickly, Sakuragi impresses Akagi. After the practice session, Sakuragi encounters a scout from Ryounan, and fills him in on who the REAL star is.....

Sakuragi is eager to play too, thinking of what Akagi has told him the previuos night. At Ryonan High, Anzai is greeted by Ryonan coach, Moichi Taoka. In the locker room, Anzai finally announces the starting five players who are Akagi, Yasuda, Shiozaki, Kogure and Rukawa.

Sakuragi keeps begging Anzai to let him join the game. At 14 mins, Ryonan has a 0-15 lead, with everyone cheering for Sendoh. Sendoh and Uozumi, both play briliantly. The first half ends with a score of 42-50.

Finally, Sakuragi got a chance to play when Akagi was hurt while playing. Now, there is only about 9 minutes left on the clock.

With just 8 minutes left in the second half, Ryonan is still leading. Taoka tells the Ryonan to continue to attack. Sakuragi plays whole-heartily and this impressed Sendoh.

Ryonan is leading with 3 points ahead of Shohoku, Taoka said that the game will depends on how Sakuragi plays. Meanwhile, Sakuragi begins to realize how important rebounds are.

Sendoh is amazed at how good Shohoku has become, thus begins to take the game seriously. Anzai then, calls both Rukawa and Sakuragi to approach, to tell them of his plan.

Although Shohoku has lost the game, Sakuragi played very well for his first game. Sakuragi and Rukawa vowed that in their next game with Ryonan, they will beat Sendoh.

The next day, Haruko has to accompany Sakuragi to the sports shop to buy a new pair of shoes because his old shoes are in a bad shape after the practice game with Ryonan.

Ryota Miyagi returns to basketball after beening injured in a fight. Ayako heard rumors that Miyagi was back in school, so she decided to investigate. She brings along Sakuragi and see that Miyagi is into another fight realizing that Ayako and Sakuragi are together sparking jealously into his eyes which causes a problem. Will Miyagi and Sakuragi be able to coexist...

It seemed like a disaster for two trouble makers in Miyagi and Sakuragi to collide with each other, but it seems things hae turned out much better than expected.

A former member of the Shohoku team returns with a major axe to grind, which spells doom for the team.

After Ayako was slapped by one of the invading students, Miyagi joined in the fight, as well as Rukawa. However, Tetsuo easily took both of them down. Sakuragi steps up to the plate, outnumbered. Things change when Sakuragi's friends appear in an unlikely fashion.

Mitsui and Tetsuo were defeated, but Mitsui still continued to fight. Though when Akagi enters, the atmosphere becomes dense. Akagi slaps Mitsui around. Kogure then informs everyone that Mitsui use to be an excellent basketball player, and was even on the team. Kogure then proceeds to tell the rise and downfall of Mitsui's basketball career.

It seems that Mitsui was once a great basketball player himself before High School. Though something happened during practice that changed his life forever.

Mitsui`s downfall... Source: crunchyroll

Mitsui, who changes his ways, rejoins the basketball team. Source: crunchyroll

At the game against Miuradai, the key players--Hanamichi, Rukawa, Ryota, and Mitsu--are left on the bench. Source: crunchyroll

As Miuradai leads 22 to 8, Shohoku finally sends its best players out to court. Source: crunchyroll

Rukawa`s play helps Shohoku tie the game. Source: crunchyroll

Naito succeeds in taunting Hanamichi to get into foul trouble. Source: crunchyroll

Shohoku is victorious in their first match. Source: crunchyroll

After fouling out two games in a row, Hanamichi`s distress has reached its peak. Source: crunchyroll

On the day of the third game, the team is annoyed that Hanamichi and Mitsui have not yet arrived. Source: crunchyroll

Hanamichi fouls out yet again for the third straight game. Source: crunchyroll

Shohoku`s next opponent is Shoyo High School. The team`s captain, Fujima, also serves as coach. Source: crunchyroll

Shohoku realizes Shoyo`s strength. The senior Hanagata, whose glasses are his trademark, shoots a fade away jump shot and shows off his skills. Source: crunchyroll

Rukawa`s mentions that "everyone`s movements are stiff," and it causes the team to regain their pace, and the team plays harder. Source: crunchyroll

Shohoku gain on Shoyo with the help of Ryota`s plays. Along with Mitsui`s 3 point shots, the game is tied 11 to 11. Source: crunchyroll

Shohoku escapes a bad situation with the help of Hanamichi dominating in rebounds. Source: crunchyroll

Fujima`s play on the court amazes everyone. Source: crunchyroll

Mitsui, who has been covered by Hasegawa`s tough defense, reaches his limits and he seems to be standing only on pure willpower. Source: crunchyroll

Hasegawa had watched Mitsui play in junior high and practiced hard to exceed Mitsui. Source: crunchyroll

Thanks to Mitsui`s willed plays, Shohoku`s deficit goes down to 3 points. Source: crunchyroll

With two minutes and thirty seconds left in the second half, the score is tied 60 to 60. Source: crunchyroll

The day after the game against Shoyo, Hanamichi reminisces about his first ever slam dunk. Source: crunchyroll

Hanamichi`s 50th rejection was by Yoko. Yoko`s man of interest is Hanamichi`s rival, Oda in Takezono High. Source: crunchyroll

A game where everyone expects Kainan Auxiliary High to win, the game against Takezono High begins with Oda in the starting lineup. Source: crunchyroll

The final four is Shohoku, Kainan, Ryonan, and Takezato. Source: crunchyroll

Preparing for the Nationals, Kainan Auxiliary High and Shohoku High start their first game of the district finals. Source: crunchyroll

In the last 10 minutes of the first half, Kainan leads 24 to 20, and inserts a third year, Miyamasu. Source: crunchyroll

Shohoku is down by 15 in the first half. Source: crunchyroll

Hanamichi is ready to fill the void as Akagi leaves the game with a foot injury. Source: crunchyroll

With one minute and thirty seconds left in the first half, Kainan leads 45 to 40. Source: crunchyroll

With Rukawa`s performance, Shohoku ties the game. Source: crunchyroll

With 10 minutes left in the second half, Shohoku was down 73 to 63 as Coach Anzai calls a timeout. Source: crunchyroll

Down by four in the last four minutes and thirty seconds, Shohoku resorts to an all-out effort. Source: crunchyroll

In the final 46 seconds, Kainan leads 90 to 86. Source: crunchyroll

The night after the shocking loss, Akagi and the team recoveres. Ayako writes "On the Edge," and the team instill it in their mind that they can`t lose anymore. Source: crunchyroll

To make a clean start, Hanamichi shaves his head but is unhappy with the spectators he attracts. Source: crunchyroll

After losing the Kainan game, only two games remain: Takezato and Ryonan. Source: crunchyroll

The Ryonan and Kainan game starts. In this game, Ryonan inserts Kicchou Fukuda, who was not at the practice game against Shohoku. Source: crunchyroll

With Sendo`s performance, Ryonan leads 29 to 39 into the second half. Source: crunchyroll

Uozumi objects to the referee`s call and picks up a technical. Source: crunchyroll

Akagi and the team learn that Hanamichi`s quick action saved Coach Anzai`s life. Source: crunchyroll

The day of the Ryonan game finally comes. Source: crunchyroll

Ryonan scores first, but Shohoku`s Hanamichi scores right back. Source: crunchyroll

The Ryonan game continues with the score tied two to two. Source: crunchyroll

After the collision, Akagi`s performance is compromised due to his concern for his foot. Source: crunchyroll

Being thrown down by Uozumi, Hanamichi doesn`t move. Source: crunchyroll

Eyeing Hanamichi`s weak defense, Ryonan throws the ball to Fukuda who is guarded by Hanamichi. Source: crunchyroll

Second half. Sendo has realized that Rukawa is not playing as aggressive as usual. Source: crunchyroll

Rukawa who was saving his energy in the first half explodes in the second half. Source: crunchyroll

In the second half, Rukawa continues to play perfectly against Sendo in a back-and-forth game. Source: crunchyroll

Last ten minutes of the second half. Hanamichi who took out Uozumi shows off his ability. Source: crunchyroll

Less than nine minutes left, Shohoku leads 53 to 46. Source: crunchyroll

Ryonan is on the brink of losing. Sendo`s exhaustion has peaked and they are in a desperate situation. Source: crunchyroll

With Uozumi`s intense focus, Shohoku`s one-sided game gradually changes. Source: crunchyroll

Shohoku is wielded by Ryonan`s pressure. Source: crunchyroll

In the last three minutes and 18 seconds, with Sendo reverting back to his old self as "Scoring Machine", Ryonan catches up to make it 58 to 65. Source: crunchyroll

In the last two minutes and 18 seconds, Shohoku has a two point lead. Source: crunchyroll

With Hanamichi`s performance, the momentum changes again. Source: crunchyroll

With less than a minute, Kogure`s three-pointer gives Shohoku a four-point lead with the score 68 to 64. Source: crunchyroll

Whole Shohoku High School is making some noise after the basketball team`s achievements of run-ups in the district tournament and entry to the Nationals. Source: crunchyroll

Hikoichi`s big sister and reporter, Yayoi Aida`s report on Sendo is nixed by the chief editor. Source: crunchyroll

Hanamichi who bumps into Maki and Nobunaga of Kainan decides to follow them to Nagoya to check out the "Star of Aichi". Source: crunchyroll

Kogure felt malaise from Rukawa, which is due to Rukawa`s wanting to go to America. Source: crunchyroll

All the schools who are entering the Nationals have been decided. Source: crunchyroll

The intensity in Rukawa and Mitsui`s one-on-one is increasing. Source: crunchyroll

The Shohoku basketball team encounters an unexpected crisis. Source: crunchyroll

To be able to cheer Hanamichi on at the game, Yohei and his friends get part-time jobs to pay for travel expenses to Hiroshima. Source: crunchyroll

Finally, the intense training camp has started. Source: crunchyroll

While Hanamichi is practicing his 20,000 jump shots, Akagi and the team have a practice game in Shizuoka. Source: crunchyroll

While Hanamichi works hard on his 20,000 jumps jump shot training, Haruko invites him to the festival for a change of pace. Source: crunchyroll

The final day of training camp. Hanamichi finally makes his final jump shot to end his 20,000 jump shot training. Source: crunchyroll

Hanamichi annoyingly suggests a practice game to show off the results of his special training to Akagi and the rest of the team. Source: crunchyroll

The Shoyo and Ryonan mixed team consists of Fujima, Hanagata, and Hasegawa from Shoyo along with Uozumi and Ikegami from Ryonan. Source: crunchyroll

When Sendo joins the mixed team, they establishes chemistry, making crisp passes, and continuous dramatic combinations. Source: crunchyroll

Shohoku`s scrimmage with the mixed team. Source: crunchyroll