Slam Dunk centers around Hanamichi Sakuragi, who starts as a delinquent outcast, becoming the leader of a
gang. Hanamichi, being very unpopular with
girls, has been rejected by them fifty times. Yet, he finds out that Haruko Akagi is the girl of his dreams, and is happy when she'
s not scared of him like all the other
girls he has asked out. Haruko Akagi, who recognizes Hanamichi'
s athleticism, introduces him to the Shohoku basketball team. Hanamichi was reluctant to join the team at first because he had no previous background in any sports and thought that basketball was a game for losers (also because the fiftieth girl rejected him for a basketball
player). Sakuragi, despite his immaturity and
hot temper, proves to be a natural athlete with potential and joins the team in order to impress Haruko and prove that he is worthy of her. Kaede Rukawa — Sakuragi'
s bitter rival (both on the basketball court and
love, even when Rukawa doesn'
t acknowledge Haruko'
s crush on him), the star rookie and a "girl magnet" - joins the team at the same
time. Hisashi Mitsui, an ex-junior high school MVP, and Ryota Miyagi, a short but fast
player, both also rejoin the team and together these four struggle to complete team captain Takenori Akagi'
s dream of making Shohoku the national champion. Together, these misfits gain publicity and the once little known Shohoku basketball team becomes an all-star contender in Japan.
