Slam Dunk is one of the best, if not the best, sports manga of all time. Takehiko Inoue poured his heart and soul into the creation of the manga, and it is evident by the end product. Slam Dunk focuses on basketball, and it helped boost the popularity of the sport in Japan.
There are many well-written characters in the series that elevate the story. Slam Dunk is predominantly about basketball, so there are always discussions about who the best players are. There is no shortage of talented individuals, but there is a disparity between them. With that in mind, here are the best basketball players in Slam Dunk.
8 Hisashi Mitsui
Hisashi Mitsui has had a turbulent career. Before joining Shohoku, Mitsui was named the MVP in junior high. He used to be very interested in basketball, but injuries changed him. Mitsui was sidelined for a long time, which caused him to drift away from the beautiful game.
Mitsui did return to the court, but he was far from his physical best. Luckily, his shooting skills and technique had not dwindled completely. His three-pointers helped Shohoku in many games, so he truly deserves a shout-out among the best players in the series.
7 Nobunaga Kiyota
Nobunaga Kiyota is a promising rookie who plays for Kainan. He is the only first-year student on the team, which is a testament to his talent. Kiyota is athletic, and he can jump and run far better than some of the senior players.
Kiyota's biggest weakness is his arrogance. He believes that he is the most talented youngster in the prefecture, but that couldn't be further from the truth. He is still behind the likes of Sakuragi and Rukawa. Luckily, he has an excellent captain in Maki, who is ready to guide him in the right direction.
6 Hanamichi Sakuragi
Hanamichi Sakuragi is the main protagonist of the series. In the beginning, he was nothing more than a delinquent who was always getting into trouble, but after meeting Haruko, he changed completely. Sakuragi wanted to impress her, so he joined the basketball team at his school.
Sakuragi's first-ever performance was completely laughable, although it was clear that he had potential and just needed someone to guide him. Eventually, Sakuragi started taking basketball seriously. So, he trained a lot and gained enough experience to become one of the most promising basketball players in Japan.
5 Ryota Miyagi
Ryota Miyagi plays as a point guard for Shohoku High. Despite his stature, he has managed to get the better of opponents who were stronger physically. Miyagi's small center of gravity allows him to turn quickly, leaving his opponents in the dust.
His devastating speed allows him to join attacks and get back to defend his basket. Miyagi's defensive ability is incredible. He has proven himself as an elite defender who can steal the ball and stop the attackers from shooting. Miyagi also has an enormous amount of stamina, which allows him to keep playing without getting tired.
4 Kaede Rukawa
Kaede Rukawa is one of the main characters of the series. Rukawa is extremely passionate about basketball, and he is willing to go to any length to ensure that he is on the winning side. Rukawa has natural talent, but he does not shy away from putting in extra work to improve his skill set.
Rukawa is mainly focused on attacking the basket of the other team. Once he gets into the groove, it is almost impossible to stop Rukawa from scoring. He has trained his senses to the point where he can score free throws with his eyes closed. Rukawa's defense is a bit weak, but he is still better than most players.
3 Kenji Fujima
Kenji Fujima is a genius basketball player who acts as the captain and coach of the Shoyo team. Fujima usually sits on the bench in matches unless his team absolutely needs him. Fujima's experience as a player and his keen observation skills help him make smart choices that benefit his team.
On the court, Fujima is nothing short of a magician. He can unlock defenses with clever plays, and he is one of the few players who are close to Maki's level. The only thing that Fujima lacks is physicality, but he more than makes up for it with his technique and flair.
2 Akira Sendoh
Akira Sendoh is the mercurial ace of Ryonan High School. Sendoh is among the few players in the series who can perform in any kind of situation. He has an explosive playing style, which has been complimented by his peers. Sendoh has the ability to bring out the best in his teammates, and because of this, they love playing with him.
He can also play various roles, which makes him part of a very special list. Sendoh's only weakness is that he is sometimes too nonchalant against weaker opponents. He only gets serious against high-quality opposition, and this particular flaw has caused problems for both him and his team.
1 Shinichi Maki
Shinichi Maki is the captain of Kainan's basketball team. He is arguably the best player in the series. He has won the MVP of his prefecture twice. One of the key reasons behind Maki's success as a player is his winning mentality. He always keeps a cool head and doesn't let any remarks from the opposition get to him.
He never underestimates his opponents, so he always gives 100% in games. Maki also treats his opponents with respect, which is rare for a player of his caliber. He doesn't have any notable weaknesses, and he can play in multiple positions, making him the best all-rounder in Slam Dunk.