Name: You could say that he's a basketball player now ( ◡̀_◡́)ᕤ
Item: Slam Dunk
Rating: 90
Author: Hebi

You could say that he's a basketball player now ( ◡̀_◡́)ᕤ · Waifora

I tried to be as spoiler-free as possible; the only part where I get into plot details is manually marked as a spoiler.

What defines good character development? I often ask myself this when evaluating characters after finishing a series, but I think it was the first time I noticed that absolutely every little thing meant development. It sneaks up on you.

I kept reading and enjoying myself. Hanamichi, being a confident airhead, was ridiculously fun, even if his actions were repetitive. But in between all those egotistical outbursts, jealousy, and cockiness, there was clear dedication and effort to improve. At the end of the day, he is just a rookie... right?

There's plenty to discuss about each character, even the side ones. I just want to say a few words about Sakuragi. Going back to how cocky and confident he is, while initially knowing nothing about basketball, he might be a perfect example of the Dunning-Kruger effect, which is a cognitive bias in which people with limited competence in a particular domain overestimate their abilities (Wikipedia info for you). I agree, maybe his confidence never wavers, but throughout the story, you see moments when Hanamichi realises that the people around him, especially those he underestimates, are actually better than him. And as much as he has to face those situations, he trains harder, learns more, and steadily improves. Granted, it seems he’s a gifted individual, and his stubbornness makes giving up impossible; that's what makes him an excellent role model. I find it amusing how motivational he is and how he makes an amazing protagonist for the story.

The final battle in the manga isn't even their last in life, nor is it the peak of development for these players, yet it's the match that changed not only the team but everyone in that building where it was happening. I kept reading, breath caught in my throat, as if I was flipping through the pages faster than ever before. I wanted to cry, but I was so overwhelmed by awe that I couldn't. Mixed emotions suffocated me. And I’m glad nobody discusses what happens. It’s like everyone collectively decided to stay silent about it, and I agree with that decision. Ever since I started reading Slam Dunk, I’ve been trying to understand what makes this story a perfect 10/10 for so many, and now I finally do.

I’ll spoil the next paragraph because it’s only for those who’ve read the manga; it's just some thoughts I want to share.

Spoiler, click to view

In chapter 267, Akagi says, "We are not best friends, and you guys always piss me off. However, this team is the best." It’s so honest that just thinking about it again makes me tear up. These five mostly have big egos; they bicker and try to one-up each other, yet in this very moment, they all give up their selfishness and share the same goal, which even makes people like Rukawa and Sakuragi give everything for this TEAM to win. Everyone jokes about "Have you ever played ... with your life on the line?" but for this series, it's no joke. Sakuragi's injury still makes the chill run down my spine. This guy genuinely decided to follow Rukawa with his life; it could have ended badly, but he still did it. Yes, it's incredibly stupid, and anyone would tell you that your life and health should come first, but people like Hanamichi share such passion that they don't even second-guess these decisions for themselves.

What happened afterwards isn’t as important. The pivotal match may have occurred early in the competition, but it’s a landmark that will stay in readers’ minds. Who knows what these boys will do in the future, but knowing them, the sky is the limit.

A little note about coach Anzai: I hope no one underestimates his value and role. He was one of the best coaches I've seen in sports manga. He believed in these boys before anyone else, and they exceeded his expectations. Without him, none of this would have happened, and he was arguably the one who provided these kids with mental stability and motivation. Thank you, old man!! (Visually, he seems like a heavy inspiration for Sakamoto.)

I’m also very pleased that the author succeeded with a basketball manga, even though it used to be the least popular sport to write about (from his afterword notes). You can really see his love for this sport and how he portrayed that love in so many ways through all of these characters.

I say all this as someone far removed from basketball. Knowing just a few names and never watching a game for more than a few minutes, I still loved every part of this manga. I can only imagine the feeling it could give a person who has a deep appreciation for the sport, especially with all the references and the overall impression Slam Dunk leaves. When it was serialised, many kids in Japan picked up basketball in middle and high school; if that doesn't say a lot, I don't know what does.

From trying to impress a girl to completely falling in love with basketball. Sakuragi, I'm so happy you've found yourself.