Episodes

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. || Hanamichi Sakuragi, an entering Shohoku high school freshman holds a record for being rejected by 50 girls during middle school. Source: crunchyroll

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. || Rukawa, the object of Haruko`s affection, runs into Hanamichi on the school roof. Source: crunchyroll

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! || Gori and Hanamichi`s confrontation continues, and the condition for the 1 on 1 game is set. Source: crunchyroll

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. || Riding high on his victory over Akagi, Hanamichi breaks into the team locker room and wears Akagi`s uniform. Source: crunchyroll

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. || Though one week has passed since the rookie, Hanamichi, is accepted into the team, he finds himself practicing dribbling in the corner of the court. Source: crunchyroll

Akagi decides to test Rukawa's skills against his own to see if Rukawa really has the talent everyone says he does. || Hanamichi absorbs the lessons like a sponge and continues to become a respectable member of the basketball team. Source: crunchyroll

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. || The pick-up game match between the freshmen and upperclassmen continues to heat up. Source: crunchyroll

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. || One rainy day Akagi learns from the captain of the Judo club, Aota, that the Judo club is plotting to recruit Hanamichi. Source: crunchyroll

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. || At the judo dojo, Hanamichi meets with Aota and is enticed into joining the judo club after being offered a photograph of Haruko. Source: crunchyroll

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. || Hanamichi feels himself increasingly attracted to basketball, and he begins to take the sport more seriously. Source: crunchyroll

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. || During an early morning special training session, Hanamichi earnestly listens to Haruko`s lessons. Source: crunchyroll

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..... || A person appears in the gym where Hanamichi is practicing alone. Source: crunchyroll

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. || Sparks quickly begin to fly between Akagi and Uozumi - the showdown has already begun. Source: crunchyroll

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. || The match begins and Shouhoku quickly lets the other opponent score. Source: crunchyroll

Finally, Sakuragi got a chance to play when Akagi was hurt while playing. Now, there is only about 9 minutes left on the clock. || The first half of the game ends with a score of 50 to 42 and Ryonan continues to overwhelm Shohoku. Source: crunchyroll

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. || Hanamichi enters the game with 9 minutes left in the 2nd half. With the loss of Akagi, Coach Taoka believes the game is over. Source: crunchyroll

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. || Rukawa, who dominated in rebounds, brings Shohoku up to 70 to 67. Source: crunchyroll

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. || With Akagi`s return, Rukawa resting on the bench, and Hanamichi remembering the fundamentals of rebounds. Shohoku regains momentum. Source: crunchyroll

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. || In deperation to hold off the raging Ryonan, Shohoku uses Hanamichi and Rukawa to double team on Sendo. Source: crunchyroll

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. || Hanamichi is still shocked after their loss to Ryonan but gains encouragement through Haruko`s words. Source: crunchyroll

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... || The guy who Ohkusu and Youhei glare at is a second year guard of the basketball team, Ryota Miyagi. Source: crunchyroll

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. || The battle between Hanamichi and Ryota continues...although Hanamichi starts it by playing dirty, and the fight is nothing more than a childish fight. Source: crunchyroll

A former member of the Shohoku team returns with a major axe to grind, which spells doom for the team. || As Hanamichi and Ryota become friends, Mitsui brings the thug, Tetsuo, to the gym during practice. Source: crunchyroll

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. || Rukawa can no longer put up with Mitsui who is doing whatever he pleases. Source: crunchyroll

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. || Youhei and Sakuragi`s Gang come to the rescue to defeat Mitsui and his gang. Source: crunchyroll

It seems that Mitsui was once a great basketball player himself before High School. Though something happened during practice that changed his life forever. || After Kogure`s confession, Hanamichi and the others learn of Mitsui`s glorious past as a star basketball player entering high school. Source: crunchyroll