In middle school, Hanamichi Sakuragi
was 'rejected' by 50 girls. Encouraged by Haruko Akagi, he joins the high school basketball team to get closer to the young girl. But daily life on the team is just a succession of frustrations because he is forced to undergo intensive basic training. Furthermore, he often clashes with Akagi, the team captain. One day, a match is organized against Ryonan High School, which is among the top 4 teams in the department. The Shōhoku team is initially leading, but thanks to Sakuragi's relentless fighting and Rukawa's subtle play, they manage to close the gap to one point against Ryonan. Then, with Hanamichi's lucky basket, Shōhoku takes the lead. Unfortunately, Sendō takes advantage of a moment of inattention to snatch the victory. Despite everything, the excitement of the match has stimulated the team led by Akagi, who continues to believe in their chances for the national title. It is at this moment that Ryōta Miyagi enters the scene, who had been hospitalized after a confrontation with a gang of thugs. This makes him another troubled boy on the basketball team.