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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!

Binge this in 9h 35m•Peaking at 8.6/10

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 girl of his dreams, Haruko Akagi. He will do anything

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 1 - The Birth of a Genius Basketman?!?
    7.9/10(340 votes)

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

    S1:E1

    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

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  2. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 2 - Die Basketball! Hanamichi vs. Rukawa
    7.7/10(285 votes)

    #2 - Die Basketball! Hanamichi vs. Rukawa

    S1:E2

    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:Unknown

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  3. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 3 - Gorilla vs. Hanamichi! Big Showdown!
    8.3/10(329 votes)

    #3 - Gorilla vs. Hanamichi! Big Showdown!

    S1:E3

    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:Unknown

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  4. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 4 - Basketball Man Hanamichi Joins the Team
    7.6/10(226 votes)

    #4 - Basketball Man Hanamichi Joins the Team

    S1:E4

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 5 - A Gutless Afternoon
    7.3/10(212 votes)

    #5 - A Gutless Afternoon

    S1:E5

    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

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  6. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 6 - Rukawa vs. Akagi. The Real Showdown!
    7.5/10(206 votes)

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

    S1:E6

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  7. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 7 - Hanamichi's Debut! Dunk Attack
    7.7/10(211 votes)

    #7 - Hanamichi's Debut! Dunk Attack

    S1:E7

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 8 - Hanamichi's Crisis! The Judo Man's Snare
    7.3/10(235 votes)

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

    S1:E8

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 9 - I Will Play Basketball!
    7.5/10(209 votes)

    #9 - I Will Play Basketball!

    S1:E9

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 10 - The 'Beginner's Shot' ....Is Hard!
    7.5/10(181 votes)

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

    S1:E10

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 11 - Special Secret Love Training for Two!?
    7.3/10(173 votes)

    #11 - Special Secret Love Training for Two!?

    S1:E11

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 12 - Beat Ryonan! Hard Training Before the Decisive Game
    7.5/10(189 votes)

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

    S1:E12

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 13 - Shohoku vs Ryonan the Fired Up Captain!
    7.6/10(168 votes)

    #13 - Shohoku vs Ryonan the Fired Up Captain!

    S1:E13

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 14 - Super Basketball Match! Ryonan's Attack of Angry Waves
    7.9/10(194 votes)

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

    S1:E14

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 15 - Hanamichi's Nervous Big Start
    8.1/10(195 votes)

    #15 - Hanamichi's Nervous Big Start

    S1:E15

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 16 - Who Is This Guy?! Taoka's Miscalculation
    8.1/10(169 votes)

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

    S1:E16

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 17 - Rebound King. Hanamichi Sakuragi's Agony
    8.1/10(167 votes)

    #17 - Rebound King. Hanamichi Sakuragi's Agony

    S1:E17

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 18 - The Last Two Minutes! I'm Taking Sendo Down!
    7.9/10(206 votes)

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

    S1:E18

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 19 - Time Up! The Ryonan Game Is Over
    8.6/10(290 votes)

    #19 - Time Up! The Ryonan Game Is Over

    S1:E19

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 20 - Basketball Shoes
    7.4/10(160 votes)

    #20 - Basketball Shoes

    S1:E20

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 21 - Super Problems! Hanamichi vs. Miyagi
    7.7/10(143 votes)

    #21 - Super Problems! Hanamichi vs. Miyagi

    S1:E21

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 22 - The Fool with the Worst Record, A Combination is Born
    8.0/10(157 votes)

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

    S1:E22

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 23 - Shohoku Basketball Team's Last Day
    8.1/10(175 votes)

    #23 - Shohoku Basketball Team's Last Day

    S1:E23

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 24 - The Allies of Justice, Sakuragi's Army Visits
    8.4/10(272 votes)

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

    S1:E24

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Slam Dunk Season 1 Episode 25 - The Guy Who Wanted to Conquer the World
    8.0/10(248 votes)

    #25 - The Guy Who Wanted to Conquer the World

    S1:E25

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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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 340 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".