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The Best Episodes of Slam Dunk Season 1

Every episode of Slam Dunk Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Slam Dunk Season 1!

Sakuragi Hanamichi is a junior high punk used to getting into fights and being rejected by girls but upon entering high school he meets the...
Genres:AnimationComedy
Network:tv asahi

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"The Birth of a Genius Basketman?!?" is the best rated episode of "Slam Dunk" season 1. It scored 7.9/10 based on 291 votes. Directed by Nobutaka Nishizawa and written by Yoshiyuki Suga, it aired on 10/16/1993. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Die Basketball! Hanamichi vs. Rukawa".

  • The Birth of a Genius Basketman?!?
    7.9/10291 votes

    #1 - The Birth of a Genius Basketman?!?

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/16/1993

    After being dumped by Yoko, a girl he really liked in Junior High, Sakuragi Hanamichi was devastated. On the first day of school, he was approached by a girl who asked him whether he likes basketball or not. He immediately said he loves it although he has no idea how to play the sport. His world is filled with hope again.

    Director: Nobutaka Nishizawa

    Writer: Yoshiyuki Suga

  • Die Basketball! Hanamichi vs. Rukawa
    7.7/10247 votes

    #2 - Die Basketball! Hanamichi vs. Rukawa

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/30/1993

    After Rukawa beats up those thugs, Hanamichi is shocked and asks him for his name. When he discovers that he is the one that Haruko has a crush on, he becaomes angry. Then, Haruko comes and helps Rukawa with his wounds, but he dismisses her and this makes Hanamichi very angry. Haruko mistakes Hanamichi for injuring Rukawa and she says that she hates Hanamichi. Hanamichi's world comes tumbling down again.

    Director: Masayuki Akehi

    Writer: N/A

  • Gorilla vs. Hanamichi! Big Showdown!
    8.2/10281 votes

    #3 - Gorilla vs. Hanamichi! Big Showdown!

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 11/6/1993

    When Hanamichi calls basketball a 'dumb game', the captain of the basketball team challenges him because Hanamichi had made fun of his favorite game of all!

    Director: Junji Shimizu

    Writer: N/A

  • Basketball Man Hanamichi Joins the Team
    7.5/10193 votes

    #4 - Basketball Man Hanamichi Joins the Team

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 11/13/1993

    Sakuragi mananges to dunk over/through Akagi. Akagi is intrigued by Sakuragi's raw power, but doesn't think he's got the drive to make it on the team. Still, he ponders what the team would be like if he was to join.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • A Gutless Afternoon
    7.3/10179 votes

    #5 - A Gutless Afternoon

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 11/20/1993

    Sakuragi Hanamichi has been training in the basics for two weeks under Ayako and he wants to play with the other. Akagi refused to let him play. Out of frustration, he quits the team. But after seeing Haruko's face, he changes his mind again.

    Director: Hiromichi Matano

    Writer: Yoshiyuki Suga

  • Rukawa vs. Akagi. The Real Showdown!
    7.4/10174 votes

    #6 - Rukawa vs. Akagi. The Real Showdown!

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 12/4/1993

    Akagi decides to test Rukawa's skills against his own to see if Rukawa really has the talent everyone says he does.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Hanamichi's Debut! Dunk Attack
    7.6/10179 votes

    #7 - Hanamichi's Debut! Dunk Attack

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 12/11/1993

    After successfully persuading Anzai to let him join the game, Sakuragi shows how much he has improved in basic skills such as dribbling. But in the game, he refuses to pass the ball to Rukawa out of jealousy.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Hanamichi's Crisis! The Judo Man's Snare
    7.3/10201 votes

    #8 - Hanamichi's Crisis! The Judo Man's Snare

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 12/18/1993

    Impressed by Sakuragi's raw power and general brute force, the captain of the judo club tries to recruit him away from the Basketball team.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • I Will Play Basketball!
    7.5/10176 votes

    #9 - I Will Play Basketball!

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 12/25/1993

    Sakuragi declines Aota's offer of joining the Judo club. Kogure and Ayako were overjoyed at Sakuragi's refusal and Akagi was very much impressed by Sakuragi's words.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The 'Beginner's Shot' ....Is Hard!
    7.4/10148 votes

    #10 - The 'Beginner's Shot' ....Is Hard!

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 1/8/1994

    After getting the permission to allow Sakuragi to learn the basics of shooting, Akagi asked Rukawa to demonstrate how to do lay-up shot. But Sakuragi got into a fight with Rukawa instead.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Special Secret Love Training for Two!?
    7.3/10142 votes

    #11 - Special Secret Love Training for Two!?

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/15/1994

    Having mastered dribbling and passing, Sakuragi moves on to shooting, which is a lot harder than he had anticipated. Frustrated by his lack of skil, Sakuragi gets some extra help from an unlikely source: Haruko.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Beat Ryonan! Hard Training Before the Decisive Game
    7.5/10157 votes

    #12 - Beat Ryonan! Hard Training Before the Decisive Game

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1/22/1994

    The night before their game with Ryounan, Akagi decides to try and teach Sakuragi basic defense, starting with rebounding. Learning quickly, Sakuragi impresses Akagi. After the practice session, Sakuragi encounters a scout from Ryounan, and fills him in on who the REAL star is.....

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Shohoku vs Ryonan the Fired Up Captain!
    7.8/10136 votes

    #13 - Shohoku vs Ryonan the Fired Up Captain!

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/29/1994

    Sakuragi is eager to play too, thinking of what Akagi has told him the previuos night. At Ryonan High, Anzai is greeted by Ryonan coach, Moichi Taoka. In the locker room, Anzai finally announces the starting five players who are Akagi, Yasuda, Shiozaki, Kogure and Rukawa.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Super Basketball Match! Ryonan's Attack of Angry Waves
    7.8/10158 votes

    #14 - Super Basketball Match! Ryonan's Attack of Angry Waves

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 2/5/1994

    Sakuragi keeps begging Anzai to let him join the game. At 14 mins, Ryonan has a 0-15 lead, with everyone cheering for Sendoh. Sendoh and Uozumi, both play briliantly. The first half ends with a score of 42-50.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Hanamichi's Nervous Big Start
    8.0/10159 votes

    #15 - Hanamichi's Nervous Big Start

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 2/12/1994

    Finally, Sakuragi got a chance to play when Akagi was hurt while playing. Now, there is only about 9 minutes left on the clock.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Who Is This Guy?! Taoka's Miscalculation
    8.0/10133 votes

    #16 - Who Is This Guy?! Taoka's Miscalculation

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 2/19/1994

    With just 8 minutes left in the second half, Ryonan is still leading. Taoka tells the Ryonan to continue to attack. Sakuragi plays whole-heartily and this impressed Sendoh.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Rebound King. Hanamichi Sakuragi's Agony
    8.0/10132 votes

    #17 - Rebound King. Hanamichi Sakuragi's Agony

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/26/1994

    Ryonan is leading with 3 points ahead of Shohoku, Taoka said that the game will depends on how Sakuragi plays. Meanwhile, Sakuragi begins to realize how important rebounds are.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Last Two Minutes! I'm Taking Sendo Down!
    7.9/10170 votes

    #18 - The Last Two Minutes! I'm Taking Sendo Down!

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 3/5/1994

    Sendoh is amazed at how good Shohoku has become, thus begins to take the game seriously. Anzai then, calls both Rukawa and Sakuragi to approach, to tell them of his plan.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Time Up! The Ryonan Game Is Over
    8.4/10243 votes

    #19 - Time Up! The Ryonan Game Is Over

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 3/12/1994

    Although Shohoku has lost the game, Sakuragi played very well for his first game. Sakuragi and Rukawa vowed that in their next game with Ryonan, they will beat Sendoh.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Basketball Shoes
    7.7/10122 votes

    #20 - Basketball Shoes

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 3/19/1994

    The next day, Haruko has to accompany Sakuragi to the sports shop to buy a new pair of shoes because his old shoes are in a bad shape after the practice game with Ryonan.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Super Problems! Hanamichi vs. Miyagi
    8.0/10110 votes

    #21 - Super Problems! Hanamichi vs. Miyagi

    Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 3/26/1994

    Ryota Miyagi returns to basketball after beening injured in a fight. Ayako heard rumors that Miyagi was back in school, so she decided to investigate. She brings along Sakuragi and see that Miyagi is into another fight realizing that Ayako and Sakuragi are together sparking jealously into his eyes which causes a problem. Will Miyagi and Sakuragi be able to coexist...

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Fool with the Worst Record, A Combination is Born
    8.3/10120 votes

    #22 - The Fool with the Worst Record, A Combination is Born

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 4/16/1994

    It seemed like a disaster for two trouble makers in Miyagi and Sakuragi to collide with each other, but it seems things hae turned out much better than expected.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Shohoku Basketball Team's Last Day
    8.5/10133 votes

    #23 - Shohoku Basketball Team's Last Day

    Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 4/23/1994

    A former member of the Shohoku team returns with a major axe to grind, which spells doom for the team.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Allies of Justice, Sakuragi's Army Visits
    8.3/10222 votes

    #24 - The Allies of Justice, Sakuragi's Army Visits

    Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 4/30/1994

    After Ayako was slapped by one of the invading students, Miyagi joined in the fight, as well as Rukawa. However, Tetsuo easily took both of them down. Sakuragi steps up to the plate, outnumbered. Things change when Sakuragi's friends appear in an unlikely fashion.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • The Guy Who Wanted to Conquer the World
    8.0/10204 votes

    #25 - The Guy Who Wanted to Conquer the World

    Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 5/7/1994

    Mitsui and Tetsuo were defeated, but Mitsui still continued to fight. Though when Akagi enters, the atmosphere becomes dense. Akagi slaps Mitsui around. Kogure then informs everyone that Mitsui use to be an excellent basketball player, and was even on the team. Kogure then proceeds to tell the rise and downfall of Mitsui's basketball career.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A