A packed gym, the sound of trainers on polished wood, the rhythmic thump of a ball being dribbled, gravity-defying leaps, intense rivalries, and characters with hair more colourful than a box of Crayola. Did we describe basketball anime accurately enough?
Indeed, we have! But this barely scratches the surface of this particular sport in anime. While baseball has long reigned supreme in the Land of the Rising Sun, basketball began gaining traction in the late 20th century. The creation of the Japan Basketball League laid the groundwork, but it was the rise of the NBA’s global popularity in the 1990s that truly ignited Japan’s basketball fever.
The result is that basketball anime shows, together with the baseball-themed ones, now dominate the spokon genre. The 1993 debut of Slam Dunk, based on Takehiko Inoue’s manga published in 1990, is often credited with skyrocketing basketball’s appeal among Japanese youth.
If you’re dipping your toes into this genre, this list of basketball shows will make you want to lace up your trainers and hit the court!
#1 Kuroko no Basket
When it comes to basketball anime, Kuroko no Basket (also known as Kuroko’s Basketball) stands head and shoulders above the rest — it’s the Michael Jordan of the genre, if you will. At the heart of the story is Tetsuya Kuroko, a seemingly unremarkable player with a hidden talent for misdirection, as he joins the Seirin High School basketball team.
Kuroko, a former member of the legendary Generation of Miracles from his middle school days, teams up with the ferociously talented Taiga Kagami. Together, they aim to bring their fledgling team to the top of the high school basketball world. But it won’t be easy — Kuroko’s former teammates, now scattered across rival schools, stand in their way, each one more dangerous than the other.
The series excels in character development. Each member of the Generation of Miracles has a distinct personality and playing style, making every match-up feel fresh and exciting. It will have you cheering from the edge of your seat and maybe even inspire you to pick up a basketball yourself. Just don’t expect to vanish on the court like Kuroko, that might be asking a bit much!
#2 Slam Dunk
Before Kuroko was passing invisible balls, there was Slam Dunk. This classic from the 90s remains a fan favourite and is often credited with popularising basketball in Japan.
Following the story of Hanamichi Sakuragi, a delinquent gang leader turned basketball novice, Slam Dunk captures the raw passion and growth that makes sports anime so addictive. It’s the series that laid the foundation for all basketball anime to come.
Unlike some of its more fantastical counterparts, this series focuses on the genuine struggles of learning a new sport. Sakuragi’s journey from a complete novice to a competent player is filled with blood, sweat, tears, and plenty of laughs along the way.
#3 Ahiru no Sora
Ahiru no Sora takes the underdog story and cranks it up to eleven. Our protagonist, Sora Kurumatani, stands at a mere 4’11”, but possesses the skills and a passion for basketball that could put giants to shame.
A true rollercoaster of emotions, this series showcases the struggles of a dysfunctional team of delinquents trying to make their mark in the highly competitive world of high school basketball. It’s a gritty, realistic take on the sport that doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of competition, making every victory feel earned and every setback a hit straight to the heart.
#4 I’ll CKBC
I’ll CKBC might fly under the radar for some, but it’s a slam dunk for those who appreciate a more grounded approach to basketball anime. This series focuses on Hitonari Hiiragi and Akane Tachibana, two talented players with a fierce rivalry that borders on obsession.
What sets I’ll CKBC apart is its exploration of the psychological aspects of sports, delving deep into the minds of its characters and the complex dynamics of team play. It’s a thought-provoking series that’ll have you pondering the nature of competition long after the credits roll.
While the series might be much shorter than some of its contemporaries, it packs a lot of action and character development into its runtime.
#5 Basquash!
Basquash! is what happens when someone looks at basketball and thinks, “You know what this needs? Giant robots!”
Set in the world of Earth Dash, this utterly bonkers series follows Dan JD, a street kid with a crazy talent for Big Foot Basketball. What’s Big Foot Basketball, you ask? Basically, basketball played with massive mechanical suits.
It’s a wild ride that combines mecha action with the strategic elements of basketball, resulting in a quite unique anime experience. The series creates a rich, detailed universe where Big Foot Basketball is both a sport and a cultural phenomenon that shapes society.
While it might be a bit out there for purists, Basquash! manages to capture the spirit of basketball in its own quirky way, proving that sometimes thinking outside the box can lead to high-level entertainment.
#6 Dear Boys
Dear Boys, also known as Hoop Days, brings us back to the familiar territory of high school basketball, but with its own slice-of-life take on the genre. The series follows Aikawa Kazuhiko as he transfers to a new school and takes on the challenge of reviving its almost defunct basketball team.
Its focus on the day-to-day struggles of building a team from scratch is a different perspective on the trope. Each character has their own reasons for joining the team, and watching them come together and grow as players and individuals is genuinely heartwarming.
Dear Boys does a fantastic job when it comes to narrating the dynamics of friendships, overcoming personal demons, and finding one’s place both on and off the court. This approach provides a nice counterbalance to some of the more over-the-top entries in sports anime.
#7 Buzzer Beater
Created by the legendary Takehiko Inoue of Slam Dunk fame, Buzzer Beater takes basketball to literally astronomical heights, in a similar way Space Jam did. Set in a future where humans have become the worst basketball players in the cosmos, the series follows a street kid named Hideyoshi as he’s recruited to play in the galaxy’s top league.
Buzzer Beater combines Inoue’s signature style with sci-fi elements, resulting in a unique take on the sport that explores themes of human potential and the unifying power of basketball on a galactic scale.
The basic rules of the game remain the same, but when you’re playing against aliens with superhuman abilities, things get interesting very quickly!
#8 Ro-Kyu-Bu!
Ro-Kyu-Bu! takes a decidedly different approach to basketball anime by focusing on a high school boy who ends up coaching an elementary school girls’ basketball team. While the premise might raise eyebrows, the series handles its subject matter with surprising tact and charm.
Unlike the high-stakes tournaments of other basketball anime, Ro-Kyu-Bu! is more concerned with the joys and challenges of introducing young children to the sport. It’s a lighter, more comedic take on basketball that emphasizes the joy of the game and the importance of mentorship.
While it might not be for everyone, Ro-Kyu-Bu! is a series that reminds us that at its heart, basketball is a game, and games are meant to be fun!
#9 Barangay 143
Barangay 143 brings a fresh perspective to the basketball anime genre by setting its story in the Philippines, a country where basketball is practically a religion. The story follows Bren Park, a Korean basketball prodigy who comes to the Philippines searching for his biological father in Manila, where he becomes entangled in the local basketball scene.
Barangay 143 offers a unique cultural backdrop to its basketball narrative, exploring themes of family, identity, and community through the lens of the sport. Interestingly, the production of this anime is the result of the collaboration between three different countries: Japan, the Philippines, and Singapore.
#10 Breakers
Breakers is a quite unique work in sports anime. Created to sponsor the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, it’s centred on the stories of four para-athletes with skills in different sports.
It stands out in the basketball anime lineup by focusing on wheelchair basketball, a perspective rarely seen in sports anime. Inspired by the real-life wheelchair basketball player Renshi Choukai, we follow the story of Kai, a kid who, despite losing his legs, dreams of playing basketball like his older brother.
There’s something very special and human in the way Breakers portrays the love for sports and the unique strategies of wheelchair basketball, but also the way it tackles issues of disability, acceptance, and determination. It’s a powerful reminder of sport’s ability to empower and unite people from all walks of life.
#11 Blue Box (October 2024)
While not yet released, Blue Box is already generating buzz in the anime community. Scheduled to hit screens in October 2024, this series promises to bring a fresh perspective to the world of basketball anime by intertwining it with elements of romance.
Based on the manga of the same name, Blue Box follows Taiki Inomata, a badminton player who finds himself living under the same roof as his basketball-playing crush, Chinatsu Kano.
While we can’t say too much about the basketball action yet, given that the anime hasn’t been released, the manga has received its fair share of praise.
#12 Dash Kappei
Rounding off our list is Dash Kappei. This classic series from the early 1980s brings a hefty dose of comedy to the basketball anime genre.
This series takes a more humorous approach to basketball, following the adventures of the vertically challenged but immensely talented Kappei Sakamoto. Kappei might seem an unlikely basketball star, but his incredible jumping ability and never-say-die attitude make him a force to be reckoned with on the court.
What sets Dash Kappei apart is its shameless embrace of slapstick humour and outrageous situations. While there’s plenty of basketball action, the series is just as concerned with Kappei’s comedic misadventures off the court. It’s like watching Mr. Bean play basketball — chaotic, ridiculous, and utterly entertaining!