Slam Dunk arrived at a time where basketball wasn't really a popular sport amongst the Japanese so the fact that it went on to become one of the most popular manga ever is really an astounding achievement. For it to have resonated with a crowd who, before this manga's release, where apathetic towards basketball highlights Takehiko Inoue's brilliance as a mangaka and is evidence which reinforces his title as one of the art's geniuses. The Japan Basketball Association even went on to congratulate Inoue for helping to popularise the sport in Japan. It's safe to say that the existence of this manga is one of the main factors which helped spark an interest for the sport and inspire the youth of Japan to engage in it. Slam Dunk really is Inoue's buzzer beater, a series which helped revive basketball in a climate where it seemed like the sport's time was running out.
Now, moving onto the manga itself, Slam Dunk follows red-haired delinquent Sakuragi Hanamichi and his journey with basketball. At first, his sole purpose in playing the sport was to impress his crush 'Haruko' and potentially win her over from the popular 'Rukawa' but as the series progresses we see Sakuragi develop a real appreciation for the sport. He develops as not only an athlete but as a person and the bonds he creates with his fellow teammates help to shape this development. Inoue's genuine love for the sport shines through in the series' volumes as matches are depicted with a lot of emotion and passion. Moreover, some matches take multiple volumes to finish and this helps readers to really engage with the sport and the frustration which the characters may experience during these matches. Inoue's art gets progressively better throughout the series and it successfully manages to depict the intensity of the sport, not only the slam dunks and 3 pointers but the crushing defeats and the uplifting victories are masterfully represented in this manga. Even during the moments where the cast are not playing basketball, the comedic scenes and love-triangles are just as enjoyable and are crucial in understanding the characters and who they are.
If you're not already a fan of basketball then it's almost guaranteed that you'll be a fan after experiencing this series, it really is the pinnacle of sports manga and deserves all the praise it receives. The main drawback is how abrupt the ending is but that surely isn't enough to overshadow all the positives this manga possesses.
