Recaps

Ryota Kudo, a transmigrated basketball prodigy, watched Hisashi Mitsui lead Takeishi Middle School to a championship and later chose Shohoku High School to pursue his goal of conquering the nation. Three years later, he arrived at Shohoku ready to join the team and noticed Hanamichi Sakuragi and his friends.

• Ryota Kudo watched Hisashi Mitsui steal the ball and score the winning three-pointer in the junior high final.
• Ryota Kudo showed Eiji Sawakita his basketball system and told him he planned to attend high school in Kanagawa.
• Over the next three years, Ryota Kudo led Akiba Junior High to three Tokyo championships and surpassed Eiji Sawakita as Japan's top junior high player.
• Ryota Kudo arrived at Shohoku High School, planning to start at point guard and later shift to shooting guard.
• Ryota Kudo recognized Hanamichi Sakuragi and the Sakuragi Gang but walked past without introducing himself.

Ryota Kudo joined Shohoku High School's Class 7 and befriended Hanamichi Sakuragi and Yohei Mito by sharing bananas with them. When Sakuragi left for the bathroom, Kudo stayed behind so Sakuragi could meet Haruko Akagi, but Sakuragi still had not returned when class began.

• Ryota Kudo entered Class 7, where his good looks drew attention from the girls and resentment from the boys.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi complained about Kudo's looks, and Yohei Mito teased Sakuragi about his fifty rejections before Sakuragi attacked him.
• Kudo approached Sakuragi and offered him bananas, which Mito briefly stole before Sakuragi reclaimed them and shared them with both friends.
• Kudo told Mito he had come from Tokyo to pursue his basketball dream, while Sakuragi reacted badly to hearing about basketball.
• Sakuragi left for the bathroom, and Kudo stayed in class, expecting Sakuragi to meet Haruko Akagi.
• The class bell rang, but Sakuragi had not returned, and Mito appeared unconcerned about his absence.

Hanamichi Sakuragi joined Ryota Kudo on a visit to Shohoku’s basketball gym, hoping to become a basketball player to impress Haruko Akagi. After Ryota persuaded Takenori Akagi to let Sakuragi stay, the captain gathered the team to see the newcomers’ abilities.

• Hanamichi Sakuragi told Yohei Mito he had fallen for Haruko Akagi and intended to win her over.
• Ryota Kudo secretly photographed Takenori Akagi after Sakuragi pulled down the captain’s shorts during their showdown.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi followed Ryota Kudo to Shohoku’s basketball gym, where Takenori Akagi welcomed Kudo but pushed Sakuragi outside.
• Ryota Kudo stopped Takenori Akagi from shutting the gym door and persuaded him to let Sakuragi join the team under Kudo’s responsibility.
• Takenori Akagi lined up the first-year newcomers and returning players to assess the newcomers’ abilities.

Ryota Kudo organized the newcomers for Shohoku’s intrasquad scrimmage against the returning players, aiming to win while beginning to build chemistry with Kaede Rukawa. The newcomers answered Takenori Akagi’s opening dunk with a fast break, and Kudo prepared to challenge Akagi one-on-one on the next possession.

• Takenori Akagi announced the scrimmage, and Ryota Kudo selected the newcomers’ lineup while leaving Hanamichi Sakuragi to practice basketball basics with Ayako Inoue.
• The returning players won the tip-off, and Takenori Akagi opened the scoring with a powerful dunk.
• Ryota Kudo passed to Kaede Rukawa, who outran Kiminobu Kogure and scored with a one-handed dunk.
• Ryota Kudo praised Rukawa with a high five, and Rukawa returned it before the returning players began another possession.
• As the returning players set up another play for Akagi, Ryota Kudo chose to defend him one-on-one.

Ryota Kudo led the Newcomer Team to a commanding halftime lead over Takenori Akagi’s Senior Team, then continued to overwhelm their defense after the break. Coach Anzai stopped the game early to protect Akagi’s confidence, while Kaede Rukawa decided to challenge Kudo after practice despite realizing Kudo was stronger.

• Ryota Kudo hit a three-pointer that reminded Takenori Akagi and Kiminobu Kogure of Hisashi Mitsui’s shooting form, and the Newcomer Team led 28-22 at halftime.
• Takenori Akagi told Kiminobu Kogure that the Senior Team had to show its resolve, and Coach Anzai encouraged Akagi when he arrived at the gym.
• Ryota Kudo drove past Yasuharu Yasuda and Kiminobu Kogure, drew Akagi’s defense, and passed to an open center for an easy basket.
• Coach Anzai watched Kudo’s play, recalled Ryuji Yazawa, and ended the game early to keep the loss from further damaging Akagi’s confidence.
• Kaede Rukawa recognized that Kudo was stronger and resolved to challenge him after practice to measure the gap and catch up.

Shohoku prepared to face Ryonan in a friendly, and Ryota Kudo confidently believed his team was stronger. After practice, Kaede Rukawa challenged Kudo to a one-on-one and lost 3-0, leaving him unable to figure out how to counter Kudo’s effortless offense.

• Coach Anzai announced that Shohoku would play a friendly against Ryonan, prompting the team to debate their chances.
• After practice, Rukawa challenged Kudo to a three-basket one-on-one, while Akagi and the other players gathered to watch.
• Kudo stole the ball from Rukawa, then used changes of pace to score a midrange jumper and a three-pointer.
• Rukawa jumped at Kudo’s shooting feint, allowing Kudo to drive past him and win the game 3-0.
• Sakuragi mocked Rukawa and challenged Kudo, but Kudo jokingly refused, wary of Sakuragi’s rule-breaking antics.

Ryota Kudo continued training and prepared for Shohoku’s friendly against Ryonan, while Akira Sendoh trained to face him and Hikoichi Aida visited Shohoku to scout the team. Hikoichi witnessed Hanamichi Sakuragi’s astonishing dunk, and Ryota asked the visitor what he wanted.

• Kaede Rukawa left the gym after figuring out Ryota Kudo’s playing style, while Haruko Akagi worried about him.
• Ryota Kudo finished his training, then arranged to meet Akira Sendoh for dinner before Shohoku’s friendly against Ryonan.
• Akira Sendoh left the seaside to practice at Ryonan, determined to beat Ryota Kudo, while Ryota saw Hisashi Mitsui bullying students but chose not to intervene.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi stayed after practice to train with Ryota Kudo, hoping to improve after embarrassing himself in front of Haruko Akagi.
• Hikoichi Aida arrived at Shohoku to scout its players and saw Hanamichi Sakuragi leap to the rim and dunk one-handed.
• Ryota Kudo noticed Hikoichi at the gym entrance and asked what had brought him to Shohoku.

Ryota Kudo trained Hanamichi Sakuragi to focus on rebounding, defense, and dunking, then treated him and Hikoichi Aida to dinner. The next afternoon, Shohoku arrived at Ryonan High School for their friendly game.

• Hikoichi Aida asked to watch Shohoku's training, and Ryota Kudo let him observe while he coached Hanamichi Sakuragi.
• Ryota Kudo invited Hikoichi Aida and Hanamichi Sakuragi to dinner and paid for their pork cutlet rice.
• Ryota Kudo introduced Hanamichi Sakuragi to Hikoichi Aida as Shohoku's third super rookie.
• Hikoichi Aida recorded in his notebook that Shohoku's members were friendly after seeing Ryota Kudo and Hanamichi Sakuragi off.
• The following afternoon, Shohoku's team gathered at Ryonan High School ahead of their 2:30 p.m. game.

Shohoku faced Ryonan in a friendly game, where Ryota Kudo and Hanamichi Sakuragi opened with a coordinated play. The chapter left Shohoku celebrating Sakuragi’s thunderous dunk as Ryonan’s coach Moichi Taoka watched in frustration.

• Ryota Kudo reunited warmly with Akira Sendoh before the teams prepared for their game.
• Ryota Kudo gave Hanamichi Sakuragi spare basketball shoes, and Sakuragi accepted them excitedly.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi joined Shohoku’s starting lineup against Ryonan, whose roster included Kiccho Fukuda, who had stayed with the team in this world.
• Jun Uozumi won the opening tip, but Ryota Kudo pressured Tomoyuki Uekusa and intercepted his pass to Akira Sendoh.
• Ryota Kudo signaled Hanamichi Sakuragi to sprint toward the basket, then passed him the ball for a powerful dunk.
• Hikoichi Aida recognized Sakuragi as another promising Shohoku newcomer, while Moichi Taoka cursed his luck at seeing so many talents join Shohoku.

Shohoku and Ryonan traded baskets as Ryota Kudo and Akira Sendoh led their teams, but Ryonan rallied after Coach Moichi Taoka restored their confidence. Ryota Kudo drove at Jun Uozumi again, considering whether to exploit Uozumi’s two fouls, and the chapter ended before he chose what to do.

• Hanamichi Sakuragi celebrated his dunk for Haruko Akagi instead of returning on defense, allowing Akira Sendoh to tie the score with a Jelly Layup past Kaede Rukawa.
• Ryota Kudo answered with a one-handed dunk over Jun Uozumi, drew a foul, and made the free throw to put Shohoku three points ahead.
• Ryota Kudo and Akira Sendoh traded scores, while Shohoku’s balanced offense gave them a 28-22 lead and prompted Coach Moichi Taoka to call a timeout.
• Coach Moichi Taoka rallied Ryonan’s exhausted players, and Jun Uozumi blocked Takenori Akagi before Akira Sendoh and Kiccho Fukuda converted a fast break.
• Ryonan closed the gap, and Ryota Kudo drove at Jun Uozumi again after noticing Uozumi had two fouls and considering how to use them.

Shohoku built on Ryota Kudo’s foul-drawing strategy to lead Ryonan by twelve at halftime, then overcame Ryoji Ikegami’s defensive stop to win 92-75 after Uozumi fouled out. Akira Sendoh congratulated Ryota but vowed to challenge him again at the Prefectural Tournament.

• Ryota Kudo drew Uozumi’s third foul, and Shohoku went into halftime leading Ryonan 52-40.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi celebrated Shohoku’s strong first half until Takenori Akagi punched him, while Kaede Rukawa resolved to train harder.
• Ryoji Ikegami stripped the ball from Ryota early in the second half, but Ryota adjusted and beat him to score a mid-range jumper.
• Uozumi fouled out five minutes into the second half, and Shohoku defeated Ryonan 92-75.
• Akira Sendoh congratulated Ryota Kudo and said he would see him again at the Prefectural Tournament.

After Shohoku defeated Ryonan, the players gathered at Uozumi's family restaurant, where Yayoi Aida interviewed Ryota Kudo about his ambitions. The dinner ended with Yayoi stopping Ryota from taking a beer, reminding him that he was too young to drink.

• Uozumi served sushi to the Shohoku and Ryonan players, and everyone praised his cooking.
• Ryota Kudo and Akira Sendoh vowed to work hard and qualify for nationals together.
• Hikoichi Aida invited his older sister Yayoi Aida to join the dinner, and she began interviewing Ryota about his background and goals.
• Ryota declared that he would help Shohoku qualify from Kanagawa and conquer the nation.
• Yayoi finished the interview and drank beer, but she caught Ryota reaching for a can and told him he was too young to drink.

After Ryota Miyagi returned to Shohoku, he mistook Ryota Kudo’s interaction with Ayako Inoue for a romance and challenged him over the starting point guard position. Kudo and Miyagi began a one-on-one showdown, with the team watching as Miyagi prepared to attack first.

• Ryota Kudo trained Hanamichi Sakuragi with Ayako Inoue, then dodged Ryota Miyagi’s sudden attack when Miyagi accused him of pursuing Ayako.
• Ayako Inoue scolded Ryota Miyagi and defended Kudo, and Takenori Akagi arrived to end the commotion.
• Ryota Miyagi officially returned to Shohoku in the number seven jersey and learned from Kiminobu Kogure that Kudo had taken the starting point guard spot.
• Hanamichi Sakuragi challenged Miyagi to a fight, but Kudo stopped him and proposed settling the dispute through basketball.
• Ryota Miyagi chose a one-on-one game to five baskets, and the players and spectators gathered as Kudo took the ball and Miyagi insisted on attacking first.

Ryota Kudo defeated Ryota Miyagi in a one-on-one game, then recruited Judo Club captain Tatsuhiko Aota to help protect the Shohoku Basketball Team from Hisashi Mitsui’s gang. Three days later, Mitsui and his gang stormed the gym looking for Miyagi.

• Ryota Kudo beat Ryota Miyagi 5-0, and Ayako assured Kudo that Miyagi would return to the team.
• Ayako told Ryota Kudo that Miyagi would officially return the next day, while Kudo anticipated an attack by Hisashi Mitsui’s gang.
• Ryota Kudo asked Tatsuhiko Aota for help and persuaded him with photographs of Akina Nakamori and Momoe Yamaguchi.
• Three days later, Hisashi Mitsui led a group into the Shohoku basketball gym and demanded to know where Ryota Miyagi was.

Hisashi Mitsui’s gang disrupted basketball practice, but Ryota Kudo, the Sakuragi Gang, and Tatsuhiko Aota stopped them. Mitsui tearfully asked Coach Anzai to let him play basketball and returned to the Shohoku Basketball Team, while the Sakuragi Gang and Toku Hotta took the disciplinary punishment.

• Kaede Rukawa confronted the delinquents after they scattered the basketballs, and Ryota Miyagi tried to take responsibility for the confrontation.
• Ryota Kudo blocked Hisashi Mitsui’s punch and dodged his next attack, exposing how much Mitsui’s fighting and athletic ability had declined.
• The Sakuragi Gang joined the fight, and Tatsuhiko Aota arrived in time to catch Yohei Mito and defeat Tetsuo and the other delinquents.
• Hisashi Mitsui told Coach Anzai, “Coach, I want to play basketball,” and returned to the Shohoku Basketball Team.
• The Sakuragi Gang and Toku Hotta accepted the school’s disciplinary punishment, leaving the team free to prepare for the Kanagawa Prefecture tournament.

Shohoku reviewed its difficult tournament schedule and prepared to face Miuradai, while rival teams gathered to watch the opening game. The Shohoku and Miuradai players took the court, and the chapter ended as Ryota Kudo’s talented starting lineup prepared to begin.

• Takenori Akagi announced Shohoku’s tournament schedule, and Kiminobu Kogure warned that the team would need to overcome Shoyo to reach the final four.
• Ayako gathered information on Miuradai, while Ryota Kudo noticed that Hisashi Mitsui had lost much of his former stamina and athleticism but retained his three-point shot.
• Ryonan, Kainan, and Shoyo players arrived to watch Shohoku face Miuradai, with Hikoichi Aida taking notes on Shohoku.
• Kengo Murasame provocatively challenged the powerhouse teams, and Nobunaga Kiyota responded before Shinichi Maki ordered him to sit down.
• Shohoku started Ryota Kudo, Hisashi Mitsui, Kaede Rukawa, Hanamichi Sakuragi, and Takenori Akagi, and Ryota Kudo looked forward to playing alongside them.

Shohoku opened its game against Miuradai with Ryota Kudo dominating Kazuo Araki, prompting Miuradai to send in its secret ace, Tetsuya Naito. Naito powered through Shohoku before Hisashi Mitsui answered with a three-pointer, leaving the game underway.

• Ryota Kudo scored the first four points by dunking and stealing the ball from Kazuo Araki, giving Shohoku a 4-0 lead and forcing Miuradai to call timeout.
• Miuradai's coach ordered the team to double-team Ryota Kudo and sent Tetsuya Naito into the game.
• Tetsuya Naito charged through Hanamichi Sakuragi and Takenori Akagi to score with a two-handed dunk.
• Ryota Kudo passed to the unguarded Hisashi Mitsui, who made a three-pointer as Norio Hotta cheered from the stands.

Shohoku crushed Miuradai 146-21, with Ryota Kudo earning MVP honors, before Kudo found Hisashi Mitsui training alone and joined him. Kudo resolved to keep improving and help Shohoku pursue the national title, while recognizing that his own strength still had limits.

• Shohoku built an early lead as Kudo organized the offense, and Kaede Rukawa stole the ball from Tetsuya Naito after Hanamichi Sakuragi confronted him.
• Shohoku defeated Miuradai 146-21, setting the tournament's largest scoring margin, and Kudo recorded 32 points, 24 assists, 11 steals, and 10 rebounds.
• Sakuragi's dunk struck Naito in the head and knocked him unconscious, causing chaos before both teams shook hands after the game.
• Kudo returned to the gym and found an exhausted Mitsui practicing shots, then encouraged him and promised Shohoku would hold the line while he recovered.
• Kudo trained with Mitsui late into the night, saw the potential in their on-court connection, and reminded himself that he needed to grow stronger beyond high school basketball.

Shohoku dominated its scrimmage and two early games, with Ryota Kudo and Hisashi Mitsui displaying powerful teamwork. On the morning of Shohoku’s game against Takahata High School, Mitsui and Kudo entered an alley to help Mitsui’s former leader Tetsuo, and Kudo began fighting the delinquents attacking them.

• Ryota Kudo and Hisashi Mitsui led their side to a 63-52 scrimmage victory over Takenori Akagi’s team, with Mitsui scoring ten three-pointers in ten minutes.
• Shohoku crushed Kakuno High School 173-19, and Takenori Akagi dragged away Hanamichi Sakuragi after Sakuragi complained that Kudo had not passed to him.
• Three days later, Ryota Kudo and Hisashi Mitsui set out to meet the Shohoku team before their game against Takahata High School.
• Mitsui heard a fight in an alley and went in to save someone, so Kudo followed rather than leave him alone.
• Kudo found Mitsui and Tetsuo surrounded by Mitsui’s former underlings, including A-Ryu, and knocked down three attackers before teasing Mitsui about his fighting skills.

Hanamichi Sakuragi and the Sakuragi Gang helped Ryota Kudo and Hisashi Mitsui escape a fight so they could reach Shohoku’s game against Takahata High School. Kudo and Sakuragi joined the game after Shohoku fell behind, while Mitsui stayed on the bench to recover from his injuries.

• Hanamichi Sakuragi and the Sakuragi Gang arrived in the alley, allowing Ryota Kudo and Hisashi Mitsui to leave for the game while the gang fought A-Ryu’s group.
• Takenori Akagi took the available Shohoku players to the venue, and Shohoku started against Takahata High School without Kudo, Mitsui, or Sakuragi.
• Kudo, Mitsui, and Sakuragi arrived ten minutes into the game with Shohoku trailing 18–26, and Coach Anzai told Mitsui to rest because of his injuries.
• Kudo entered at shooting guard and sank a three-pointer after Akagi set a screen for him.
• Kudo blocked the opposing shooting guard’s shot, then passed to Kaede Rukawa on a fast break, and Rukawa finished with an alley-oop dunk.

After Shohoku crushed Takahata High School, Kenji Fujima and the Shoyo players challenged Ryota Kudo’s group to a three-on-three friendly game. The teams reached an outdoor court, where the match was about to begin with Kudo receiving the ball first.

• Ryota Kudo and Hanamichi Sakuragi helped Shohoku defeat Takahata High School 123-51, with Sakuragi recording 8 points, 16 rebounds, and 4 blocks.
• Kenji Fujima approached Ryota Kudo and proposed an early three-on-three game between Shohoku and Shoyo, and Hisashi Mitsui and Hanamichi Sakuragi agreed to play.
• Kazushi Hasegawa confronted Hisashi Mitsui, saying he would stop him from scoring, though Mitsui did not remember facing him in middle school.
• Kenji Fujima and the Shoyo players secured the outdoor court after demonstrating their skills to the adults playing there.
• As the two teams warmed up, Ryota Kudo looked forward to testing himself and learning from Shoyo, and Fujima tossed him the ball to start the game.

Ryota Kudo and his teammates played Shoyo in a half-court three-on-three game that ended in a 32-32 tie. Afterward, Ryota encouraged the frustrated Hisashi Mitsui and promised they would settle things at the Prefectural Tournament.

• Ryota Kudo scored against Kenji Fujima, then used his strength to drive past him before Toru Hanagata blocked his layup attempt.
• Ryota passed to Hanamichi Sakuragi, whose open shot missed; Toru Hanagata rebounded and Kenji Fujima sank a three-pointer to put Shoyo ahead 3-2.
• Toru Hanagata scored with a fadeaway jumper over Hanamichi Sakuragi, who mistook the move for a foul.
• Ryota Kudo and Kenji Fujima traded attacks as Hanagata's fadeaways and Sakuragi's struggles kept the game close until it was tied 32-32 ten minutes later.
• After Kenji Fujima called off the game, Hisashi Mitsui lamented that Kazushi Hasegawa had held him to two points, and Ryota promised they would face Shoyo again at the Prefectural Tournament.

Ryota Kudo reviewed the basketball abilities he had gained and spoke with his clingy mother, who planned to attend Shohoku’s final-four games. On his way to extra practice, he saw Haruko Akagi playing basketball and encountered a helmeted stranger whose athletic feat and lecherous reaction startled everyone.

• Ryota Kudo assessed the new skills he had gained, then told his mother he would not return to Tokyo because he was focused on basketball.
• Ryota Kudo continued supporting Hisashi Mitsui’s extra training and set out for more practice on Saturday.
• Ryota Kudo found Haruko Akagi practicing layups at an outdoor court while the Sakuragi Gang watched her.
• A helmeted man rode onto the court, leaped from his motorcycle, and dunked Haruko Akagi’s missed shot.
• Haruko Akagi hurried away, and the helmeted man removed his helmet and declared that she was his; Ryota Kudo recognized his expression as resembling Hanamichi Sakuragi’s.

Shohoku faced Tsukubu High School in a game for a place in Kanagawa’s final eight, while Koichiro Nango’s rivalry with Hanamichi Sakuragi carried onto the court. Tsukubu’s teamwork and Nango’s scoring challenged Shohoku, and Takenori Akagi called for the ball after Nango taunted him about Haruko.

• Hanamichi Sakuragi headbutted Koichiro Nango after learning Nango wanted to pursue Haruko Akagi, and they bet that Sakuragi would step aside if Shohoku lost to Tsukubu.
• A week later, Shohoku and Tsukubu began their final-eight qualifying game, with Ryota Kudo starting and Hanamichi Sakuragi on the bench.
• Tomokazu Godai scored Tsukubu’s opening basket with a three-pointer after the team’s rapid passing drew Shohoku’s attention away from him.
• Ryota Kudo delivered a well-timed pass to Kaede Rukawa, who scored a double-clutch layup and drew Kenji Fujima’s notice.
• Koichiro Nango scored inside, taunted Hanamichi Sakuragi, and angered Takenori Akagi; after Coach Kazumi Kawasaki reprimanded Nango, Akagi called for Kudo to pass him the ball.

Takenori Akagi powered past Koichiro Nango while Ryota Kudo shifted the game against Tsukubu High School with a long-range shot, a steal, and a dunk. As Tsukubu called a timeout, determined shooter Tomokazu Godai vowed to beat Kudo, and Sannoh Industrial High School arrived at the gym.

• Takenori Akagi dunked over Koichiro Nango and warned him to stay away from Haruko Akagi after Ryota Kudo revealed they were siblings.
• Tomokazu Godai sank another three-pointer, putting Shohoku behind and frustrating Hisashi Mitsui.
• Ryota Kudo scored from near the center line, intercepted Godai's lob more than three meters above the floor, and finished a fast break with a tomahawk dunk.
• Coach Kazumi Kawasaki called a timeout as Tsukubu High School's players lost confidence, while Godai stayed composed and resolved to defeat Kudo.
• Sannoh Industrial High School entered the gym and drew the attention of both teams.