Hey fellow Basketball lovers! Are you looking to take your hoop dreams from the court to the screen? Well grab a snack and get comfy, because I'm about to run through a slam dunk list of the best basketball anime of all time!
Whether you're a hardcore otaku or freshly jumping into the anime game, these shows are sure to entertain. From classic underdog stories to intergalactic alien matchups, basketball anime has something to offer everyone.
Alright, timeouts over - let's get into these sweet sixteen picks!
1. Kuroko No Basket
Starting off our list is the widely popular modern classic, Kuroko No Basket! Premiering in 2012, this adrenaline-packed show follows the journey of Seirin High School's basketball team aiming to become the best high school team in Japan.
The real stars here are the dual protagonists - Kuroko, a player specializing in misdirection, and Kagami, a hot-headed power forward. Together, these two make an unstoppable duo, pulling off insane combos and pushes their teammates to new heights.
With its flashy special moves grounded in real basketball fundamentals and priori characterization, Kuroko No Basket scores big points with sports fans and shonen lovers alike. If you're looking for a fast-paced battle anime disguised as a sports show, be sure to check this one out!
Watch Kuroko No Basket
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2. I'll/CKBC
Moving down the list we have I'll/CKBC, a lesser known but still solid basketball anime from 2003. Spanning just 2 episodes, this OVA delivers exhilarating games highlighting the importance of teamwork and chemistry.
We follow dual protagonists - the hardworking Tachibana and naturally gifted Hiiragi, as they learn to utilize each other's strengths to lead their team to victory. Alongside the intense court action, I'll/CKBC also devotes time to develop the relationships between characters.
So if you want a quick watch that still captures the core values of the sport, be sure to check out this hidden gem! It'll leave you wishing there were more episodes to see this squad's full potential!
3. Dash Kappei
Now for a bit of a curveball - next up is the 1981 comedy series Dash Kappei! Known for its zany humor and exaggerated basketball, Dash Kappei is perfect for those looking for some over-the-top fun alongside their sports fix.
Our pint-sized protagonist Kappei has a strange motivation for playing basketball - to catch a glimpse under his coach's skirt! But his pervy antics are no match for his wild, almost magical skills on the court.
Along with tons of ecchi comedy, Dash Kappei also offers surprisingly informative explanations of basketball fundamentals. So get ready for some mischievous fun as Kappei dashes his way through the basketball scene!
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4. Barangay 143
If learning about basketball culture across the globe interests you, be sure to check out Barangay 143! This obscure Philippines series from 2015 depicts street basketball through a local lens.
We follow Korean player Bren Park as he joins a streetball team in the Philippines. Through their matches, Bren comes to understand the inseparable relationship between Filipinos and the sport.
Aside from representing Asian basketball, Barangay 143 also explores universal themes of pursuing your passions. With collaboration from one of the largest Filipino animation studios, this anime offers an authentic look into how basketball permeates all aspects of local culture.
5. Heong-geuli Beseuteu 5
Next up, the 1995 Korean film Heong-geuli Beseuteu 5 teaches an important lesson - victories are only possible through teamwork. Our protagonist, talented player Youngwoong, decides to join an underdog basketball team instead of elite schools.
Initially disappointed, he comes to realize every player's strengths and weaknesses. By learning to play cohesively, the team shows incredible growth, shocking powerhouse schools. Even featuring the Korean University basketball team on its soundtrack, Heong-geuli Beseuteu 5 clearly conveys basketball fever within the nation!
6. Onagawa Chuu Baske Bu: 5-nin no Natsu
For an inspirational story about perseverance and community, look no further than Onagawa Chuu Baske Bu: 5-nin no Natsu. This 2017 special follows the girls basketball team of Onagawa Junior High as they push through immense tragedy.
Taking place after the devastating 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the team only has 5 remaining players. However, their passion for basketball and each other gives them the strength to keep playing during immense hardship. A true testament to the human spirit, Onagawa Chuu Baske Bu: 5-nin no Natsu will surely touch your heart.
7. Dear Boys
Getting back into the gameplay, Dear Boys delivers your classic high school basketball action. Our series follows Aikawa, a skilled player who transfers to the downtrodden Mizuho High hoping to lead them to glory.
What follows is a story of growth, as Aikawa inspires and trains his eccentric teammates to become worthy rivals. Match after match, their teamwork and skills develop tremendously. Though initially met with skepticism, Aikawa proves that with dedication and team spirit, anybody has potential for greatness on the court!
Watch Dear Boys
8. Ro-Kyu-Bu!
If intense loli action and basketball seem like a questionable mix...just hear me out! Ro-Kyu-Bu! manages to blend these elements into an entertaining show exploring maturity and coaching.
Our protagonist Subaru steps back from playing himself after a scandal, but still wants to pursue the sport through coaching an elementary school girls team. Though lacking experience, he comes to understand each of the girl's strengths and weaknesses.
Slowly but surely, he molds them into a cohesive unit ready to take on older middle schoolers! So set aside any skepticism over its premise - Ro-Kyu-Bu! delivers delightful basketball training with a side of kawaii!
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9. Breakers
In recent years, stories of para-athletes and adaptive sports have finally gained more widespread attention. Breakers focuses specifically on wheelchair basketball, portraying the sport in an exciting light.
Among its spotlight on several para-sports, Breakers dedicates its first episode to wheelchair basketball. Capturing the thrill and skill involved, this series helps transform societal conceptions about disabilities and competitive sports.
So if you're interested in an enlightening and empowering take on basketball, be sure to check out Breakers!
10. Basquash!
Alright, are you ready for things to get really wild? Then let me introduce the eccentric mashup of mechs and basketball that is Basquash! Set in a distant future, legendary player Dan JD popularizes mecha streetball "Big Foot Basketball", which swiftly becomes Earth's most followed sport.
Giant robots battling mid-air while dunking massive balls into equally massive hoops - what's not to love?! Backed by gorgeous animation and even Nike product placement, Basquash! offers exhilarating new twists on traditional basketball. Perfect for sci-fi lovers craving fresh sports excitement!
Watch Basquash!
11. Buzzer Beater
If otherworldly action is up your alley, then the intergalactic battles of Buzzer Beater are sure score big points with you! In this spacefaring society, the game of basketball has been dominated by various alien races boasting superhuman physicality.
Our struggling human protagonist Hideyoshi suddenly gets the chance to go pro, building a team aiming to challenge the galaxy's reigning alien champs. Cue insane extraterrestrial battles with everything on the line!
Visualizing fantastical beastly players through sharp artwork, Buzzer Beater throws conventions out the window for adrenaline-filled cosmic madness. A must-see for sci-fi basketball lovers!
12. Ahiru no Sora
If you prefer character-focused coming-of-age stories, Ahiru no Sora beautifully depicts youth basketball culture. Sora Kurumatani lives, breathes, and dreams about basketball. But his short stature seems incompatible for the sport.
Upon entering high school, Sora joins the basketball team only to find it filled with indifference and delinquency rather than passion. Through tenacious efforts and interpersonal growth, he reignites their once forgotten love of the game.
Ahiru no Sora proudly reps Asian youth basketball culture. Capturing the dynamics of high school life alongside commentary about society's narrow perceptions of aptitude. An emotional watch that tugs your heartstrings through each step of their journey.
Watch Ahiru no Sora
13. Kuroko No Basket: Last Game
What better way to follow up our #1 pick than with its action-packed OVA sequel - Kuroko No Basket: Last Game! This movie realizes the dream matchup of pitting Kuroko and Kagami's team against a squad of talented American streetball players.
Boasting intense back-and-forth showdowns, this OVA doubles down on the original series' flavor for combat-like basketball excitement. Death-defying jumps, flurries of counters and combos, the works! Backed by thrilling music and crisp animation, Last Game offers a brief yet supremely satisfying epilogue for Kuroko No Basket fans.
Watch Kuroko No Basket: Last Game
14. Slam Dunk
And now - a salute for the series that started it all! Slam Dunk!! Premiering back in 1993, this 101 episode series took Japan and international audiences by storm - igniting widespread basketball fervor through decades to come.
We witness aggressive punk Hanamichi Sakuragi's journey transforming from total basketball noob to an ace star player. Through trials and tribulations with his teammates, Hanamichi comes to rediscover his forgotten passion for the game.
With its excellent pacing and grounded portrayal of growth, Slam Dunk perfectly encapsulates the coming-of-age sports genre. Ushering waves of playing enthusiasts while cementing itself as an eternal masterpiece for years to come!
Watch Slam Dunk
15. Mitsu x Mitsu Drops (Honey x Honey Drops)
If shoujo romance stories are more your speed, Mitsu x Mitsu Drops brings basketball into the mix! Set at Houjou Academy where students can become "masters and honeys" - things take an odd turn when star basketball player Kai stakes victory against another school...using his honey as wager?!
That honey happens to be the cute underclassman Hagino, who Kai trains vigorously to ensure she isn't taken away by the other school. What unfolds is both a basketball tale and blossoming romance story as these two start seeing each other in new competitive light! Packed into just two episodes, Mitsu2 drops offers a sweetheart basketball story for shoujo lovers!
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16. Power!! Girl's Got Game
Girl power runs rampant in this fun gender-bender series Power!! Girl's Got Game! Our protagonist Hiromi desperately wants to attend Seisyu Academy for their elite...boy's basketball team. So what's her father's genius solution? Enroll her as a boy instead!
What follows is comedic chaos as Hiromi tries keeping her identity secret from oblivious hot guy teammates while becoming their team's rising basketball star! You'll be rooting for all the hilarious ways Hiromi sneakily maneuvers basketball and high school romance scenes playing as a boy herself! A wonderfully wacky time that empowers anyone to ball out!
17. Harlem Beat
If stories about streetball redemption call out to you, Harlem Beat delivers an emotional sports journey! Protagonist Nate gets perpetually benched on his lackluster school team. But when he takes to the urban courts and joins the Harlem Beat team, Nate suddenly transforms into a basketball beast!
Training relentlessly as an ace on this ragtag neighborhood team, Nate gains immense personal growth becoming a passionate player striving to conquer full court challenges! Harlem Beat beautifully depicts the gritty heart and fluidity that streetball culture embodies.
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18. Real
And for a true-to-life portrayal of wheelchair basketball, we have Real! This acclaimed realistic fiction manga sheds light on the daily struggles and triumphs of three paraplegic players. Momentous tragedy may have affected their mobility, but their spirit remains unbroken as they find new purpose playing wheelchair basketball.
Both inspiring and sobering, Real grounds readers by highlighting real societal issues of marginalization and accessibility. An eye-opening slam dunk success delivering profound human truths through athletic narrative!
Final Thoughts
If one thing's clear from these sweet sixteen picks - basketball makes for hugely entertaining anime! We've journeyed through various styles depicting the sport - from cathartic to comedic, futuristic to realistic, and beyond!
No matter your basketball experience level, there's bound to be that perfect match getting your heart racing and eyes glued to the screen with each electrifying play!
So what will your first pick be? Let me know which basketball anime gets you psyched up to shoot some animated hoops! Thanks for reading this enthusiastic list of basketball faves - now get out there making those anime assist passes!
