If you are into animes, or you want to get initiated into the genre, we have a recommendation for you — Kuroko no Basket, which is a great watch for sport freaks and even those who are not into sports, thanks to its refreshingly original plot and colourful characters. With a story that keeps you hooked continuously, this is the ideal weekend binge-watch.

Plot Pot

With over 100 members and three straight championships, Teik Middle School’s basketball club is unrivalled. Their team triumphed over the competition by annihilating it. For years, this group of exceptionally gifted athletes have dominated the sports scene with unbeatable game records.

There was once a team of basketball geniuses that led their league to a championship by crushing the opposition. Because they are all born in the same year, this group of athletes is often referred to as “the Generation of Miracles”. These five stand-outs graduated from middle school and enrolled at prestigious high schools that had championship-calibre basketball squads.

A Phantom Sixth Man, a member of the Generation of Miracles whose existence is mostly unknown, was there during the entire tour. This enigmatic athlete has enrolled as a freshman at Seirin High, a relatively unknown school with a formidable sports program. Taiga Kagami, a naturally talented player who spent most of his junior high years in America, and Tetsuya Kuroko, the sixth man from the Generation of Miracles, are now working to bring Seirin to the top of Japan by defeating Kuroko’s old teammates one by one.

Kagami soon learns, however, that Kuroko takes advantage of his lacklustre presence in games to his own advantage. He thrives when he has the opportunity to dish off to more powerful players who are also good goal scorers. There’s a dark spot that has to be illuminated. It’s revealed that Kagami is the one in the light, and the two of them have a plan to lead Seirin’s basketball team to glory by vanquishing the other members of the Generation of Miracles.

Pages from the manga

Genre: Comedy, Sports Manga

Seasons: Three

Where to stream: Netflix, Crunchyroll, Bilibili

Manga: 30 volumes, written and illustrated by Tadatoshi Fujimaki

The Telegraph rating: 4/5

Stars of the show

Atsushi Murasakibara: Extraordinary in stature and composure, he has always made it clear to those around him that he despises, bores with, and despises basketball players who play with emotion and intensity, no matter the score. However, as the series progresses, it becomes clear that he has a genuine appreciation for basketball.

Riko Aida: Riko cares much for her team, but she doesn’t hesitate to submit them to killer-training (Super Hard Training). Or to be exact, because Riko cares for them, she is not afraid to push the team to the very last and force themselves to exert their strength even when past their limit, which makes her an important and lovable part of the team.

Tetsuya Kuroko: Overall a laid-back person who has a few amusing moments but a straightforward demeanour. He works really hard and puts the needs of the team ahead of his own. His lack of charisma and ability to blend into the background complements his deception perfectly. In addition, has a lot of regard for his fellow basketball enthusiasts.

Kazunari Takao: As he possesses a great eye for basketball, making it possible for him to see through Kuroko’s deception, he is a natural adversary. Despite his desire for vengeance, he manages to be entertaining to everyone around him, even his foes.

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