The gold standard of basketball manga that everyone knows! Famous quotes from Slam Dunk
The sports manga SLAM DUNK began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1990 and sparked an explosive basketball boom.
In 2022, the film THE FIRST SLAM DUNK was released, and it became a major topic not only among longtime fans but also younger generations, underscoring its unwavering popularity.
This time, we’ve compiled a list of memorable quotes from characters appearing in SLAM DUNK.
If you’re not very familiar with SLAM DUNK yet, this article might help you discover its appeal—so don’t miss it!
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The universally known pinnacle of basketball manga! Slam Dunk’s famous quotes (1–10)
Basketball isn’t math.Kaede Rukawa
When taking on a challenge, many people try to map out a path to success and calculate how likely it is.
This quote from Kaede Rukawa casually rejects that kind of probability math, telling us that things don’t always go as predicted.
Aimed at Akira Sendoh, who’s considering the chance of a comeback, Rukawa’s words ruthlessly drive home that nothing involving an opponent will unfold according to plan.
There’s no fixed right answer—so you should face it with everything you’ve got and turn it into an opportunity.
I don’t need to be the star of the team.Jun Uozumi
The more someone challenges themselves to achieve something great, the more likely they are to feel discouraged when they sense a difference in talent.
This is a line by Jun Uozumi that conveys the importance of having the courage to accept the differences between yourself and others, and then thinking about what you can do.
It portrays his understanding that, with his own ability, he cannot be the star of the team, and his decision to do what he can for the other leads and for the team—his own way of contributing.
It’s a line that conveys the bonds within the team while also carrying the message that we should search for a way of living that only we can pursue.
Genius is 99% talent and 1% effort.Sakuragi Hanamichi
Effort is often talked about as crucial when facing challenges, but believing that you have talent can also sometimes turn into a powerful force.
It’s a line from Hanamichi Sakuragi that brims with a strong self-affirmation—telling himself he can do it—and a palpable confidence.
While it comically flips Thomas Edison’s famous quote on its head, it still conveys how strong confidence can be.
I think it was also meant to make clever use of the original quote, and since it leaves a trace of effort in there, it’s a line that hides a will to keep trying, too.
The gold standard of basketball manga that everyone knows! Famous quotes from Slam Dunk (11–20)
It’s not time to panic yet.Akira Sendoh
When the time spent trying without getting the results you want drags on, that anxious rush starts to build in your heart, doesn’t it? These are words from Akira Sendoh, reminding us that calming that inner impatience and continuing to push forward with composure is what leads to results.
He says this to a teammate who’s getting flustered because the game isn’t going as planned, using it to steady both his teammate and himself.
Anxiety never leads to good outcomes; we should approach everything calmly—words you can apply to just about any situation.
Damn, you kept me waiting for two whole years…Kiminobu Kogure
Even if there are moments when you feel hope that your dream might come true, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will happen right away.
This line by Kiminobu Kogure expresses the belief that even if it takes a long time to reach that dream, if you keep working at it, it will someday come true.
It also conveys the joy of seeing an ideal team—once only dreamed of—finally come together after two years, and the feeling that it was worth continuing this far.
These words make you believe that if you keep moving forward with faith, you can draw closer to your ideal.
I will never give up.Shigeichi Taoka
In challenges like games, the more bad situations pile up, the stronger the urge to give up becomes.
Here are the words of coach Shigeichi Takaoka, who encourages a player on the verge of giving in with strong, resolute language.
Speaking to Uozumi just before he’s about to be ejected, the coach conveys that he himself hasn’t given up, calling on him to keep fighting with everything he’s got.
Precisely because the words are simple, the feeling of “I believe in you” comes through directly, leaving an impression that gives you strength.
A must-see / Gotta check this outHikoichi Aida
When you take on a challenge, it’s important to build up knowledge about it.
Even if it doesn’t lead directly to results, it might help you identify a new path.
These are lines from Hikoichi Aida that convey the importance of acquiring such knowledge and of observing carefully.
It’s a phrase that appears repeatedly as a catchphrase, expressing the attitude that what matters is verifying and analyzing everything with your own eyes.
It also conveys the importance of figuring out what you’re good at and thinking about how to make the most of it.