Line #53 ShoutOut/SlamDunk


1	[[quoteright:1000:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/5b3e21459272ca6bee56293df3d2e1fa.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:1000:Slam Dunk's Michael Jordan vs. the NBA's Kaede Rukawa.]]
3
4	This is a list of shout-out references for ''Slam Dunk''.
5	----
6	[[foldercontrol]]
7
8	!!Real-Life NBA Team Models
9
10	The real-life [[UsefulNotes/NationalBasketballAssociation NBA]] equivalents of the teams and players of ''Slam Dunk'' is always a fun topic to explore. Creator/TakehikoInoue is quite the [[{{Understatement}} hardcore basketball fan]] indeed.
11
12	[[folder:Shohoku High School]]
13	[[AC:Team Line-Up]]
14	* If Kainan is the Lakers and Shoyo is the Celtics, then naturally the [[EnsembleDarkHorse Dark Horse]] of Kanagawa, Shohoku, is the ''Slam Dunk'' equivalent of the Chicago Bulls under UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan.
15	* The Shohoku [[FiveManBand starting five]] also looked like the all-star line-up of the 1992 Olympic Dream Team.
16	** [[TheBigGuy Takenori Akagi]] (Patrick Ewing) as the center.
17	** [[TheSmartGuy Ryouta Miyagi]] (Magic Johnson/John Stockton) as point guard.
18	** [[BrokenAce Hisashi Mitsui]] (Larry Bird) as shooting guard.
19	** [[TheAce Kaede Rukawa]] (Michael Jordan) as small forward.
20	** [[TheLancer Hanamichi Sakuragi]] (Charles Barkley) as power forward.
21	* The 1990-91 Chicago Bulls starting five is also Shohoku-like.
22	** Takenori Akagi (B.J. Armstrong) as the center.
23	** Ryouta Miyagi (John Paxson) as point guard.
24	** Hisashi Mitsui (Craig Hodges) as shooting guard.
25	** Kaede Rukawa (Michael Jordan) as small forward.
26	** Hanamichi Sakuragi (Horace Grant/Scottie Pippen) as power forward.
27
28	[[AC:Individual Team Members]]
29	* Even Kaede Rukawa himself is reminiscent of a young, brash, and ball-hogging [[TheAce Michael]] [[InsufferableGenius Jordan]] in terms of his [[JackOfAllTrades all-rounder]] [[SpotlightStealingSquad yet selfish]] play-style where he can [[RenaissanceMan literally]] [[JackOfAllStats do]] [[MasterOfAll anything]] on the basketball court[[note]](occasionally attack from outside by shooting threes, steal balls, master feints and fakes, have underrated passing abilities, drive through a tight defense, do flying dunks from across the free throw line, or score in the paint)[[/note]].
30	** Aside from play-style, Rukawa also wore Jordan's signature left armband. Like Jordan, Rukawa's character development came about when he learned the value of [[TeamSpirit team play]] and [[BoringButPractical passing the ball]].
31	** Also, in a case of LifeImitatesArt, Rukawa passing to Sakuragi to get the game-winning buzzer beater in 1996 against Sanno High actually happened for real when Jordan passed to Steve Kerr to get the game-winning buzzer beater in 1997 against the Utah Jazz during the NBA Finals.
32	* Takenori Akagi is probably based on [[LargeAndInCharge Patrick Ewing]] from the New York Knicks because they have the same [[{{Expy}} physical]] [[CaptainErsatz appearance]] and the [[GeniusBruiser same position]] in the court. However, Ewing possesses better mid-range shooting, something that Akagi doesn't have.[[note]]Akagi started off very raw and had a terrible free throw percentage until his second year in high school. In contrast, Ewing's free throw percentage is respectable amongst centers (74% all time). Akagi's angst in being the only good player in his team in his first two years of high school also mirrors Ewing's frustrations of never being an NBA champion despite winning Rookie of the Year in 1986 and being an 11-time NBA All-Star.[[/note]]
33	* [[InconsistentSpelling Ryota/Ryouta]] Miyagi is likely based on former NBA player [[WeakButSkilled Muggsy Bogues]], particularly during his stint with the Charlotte Hornets.[[note]]Miyagi's shortness in height yet amazing ability to use his quickness to get past his defenders is quite Bogues-like. Bogues is still the Hornets' franchise leader in steals. Unlike Bogues, Ryota can steal the ball [[HeroicAmbidexterity left-handed]], and has a more accurate left-handed layup despite shooting right handed.[[/note]] Arguably, Miyagi could instead be comparable to [[SuperSpeed Kevin Johnson]] of the Phoenix Suns based on the timing of Miyagi's first appearance, among other factors.[[note]]They have the same jersey number, same speed and agility, same play-style that's even more accurate to Johnson than the Bouges comparison, and same impressive stamina. Like Kevin Johnson's face-off against Magic Johnson, Miyagi also ended up facing the Kainan Team Captain Maki in a duel to see who's Kanagawa's Number One point guard.[[/note]]
34	* Hisashi Mitsui is likely based on former NBA player [[ImprobableAimingSkills Craig Hodges]] during his run with the Bulls.[[note]]They both wore the No. 14 jersey and were [[CripplingOverspecialization three-point shooters]].[[/note]] There's also [[BrokenAce Jeff Hornacek]] of the Phoenix Suns/Philadelphia 76ers.[[note]]This is due to him also wearing the No. 14 jersey and having [[DentedIron left knee]] [[GameBreakingInjury problems]]. Like Mitsui, Hornacek also wore a knee brace as his knees deteriorated from the strain of shooting practice.[[/note]] According to [[https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=1364780 several]] [[https://www.reddit.com/r/RealSlamDunk/comments/fsexzv/nba_2k20_slam_dunk/ websites]], Mitsui might also be based on gold medalist shooting guard [[CombatPragmatist Reggie Miller]] of the Indiana Pacers.
35	* According to [[WordOfGod Takehiko Inoue]], Hanamichi Sakuragi is based off of NBA All-Star Charles Barkley in terms of rebounding acuity and dunking power.[[note]]They even share a gift of gab in terms of [[BoisterousBruiser trash talking]] to boot.[[/note]] From there, Sakuragi[[note]]after Shohoku's defeat against Kainan (where he had his ImportantHaircut in penance for the loss) [[/note]][[CharacterDevelopment "became"]] more like [[CrazyIsCool Dennis Rodman]] from the "Bad Boy" [[GangOfBullies Detroit Pistons]] and San Antonio Spurs.
36	** Rodman and Sakuragi share the same rough play-style that results in many fouls, [[BoisterousBruiser strength]] and [[EnduranceDuel stamina]], pure athleticism, [[InASingleBound jumping height]], and ability to get [[TheDeterminator endless rebounds]].[[note]]However, unlike Sakuragi, Rodman is a hassle-play defense specialist who can lock down anyone in the NBA, including Michael Jordan (with some help from the "Bad Boy" Pistons and their [[LoopholeAbuse "Jordan]] [[UnnecessaryRoughness Rules"]]).[[/note]]The fact that Rodman ended up with the Bulls in 1995 is probably [[LifeImitatesArt a]] [[HilariousInHindsight happy]] [[AccidentallyCorrectWriting coincidence]].
37	** Like Charles Barkley, the newbie Sakuragi tends to be a bad outside shooter (especially prior to his 20,000 jump shot training from Coach Anzai).[[note]]Both Sakuragi and Barkley tend to get shouted down by their angry teammates whenever they attempt sure-to-fail jump shots instead of close-perimeter lay-ups or slam dunks. Infamously, Barkley made only 538 of his 2,020 attempts at 3-point shots in his entire career (26.6%).[[/note]]
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Shoyo High School]]
41	* Shoyo is likely based on the Boston Celtics (of whom they share jersey colors with) under Larry Bird's leadership.
42	* The Shoyo playbook[[note]]involving tall players in the paint stifling the other team's offense, getting all the rebounds, or scoring at will while supported by an unselfish point guard who could pass to any of them at any time or shoot from the perimeter with accurate twos and threes[[/note]] is quite reminiscent of the play-style of the 1980s Celtics as well.
43	* Meanwhile, their team captain and coach [[FragileSpeedster Kenji]] [[GlassCannon Fujima]] serves as their [[TheStrategist Larry]] [[GuileHero Bird]]. Just as Fujima served as Shoyo's coach/player, Bird himself ended up becoming a successful NBA coach after he retired in 1992.
44	** He also has shades of [[WeakButSkilled John Stockton]] in him due to his high I.Q. strategic plays, multitude of assists, quality passes, and smaller stature.
45	** The way Fujima served as the player-coach of Shoyo, meanwhile, is also reminiscent of how Bill Russell fulfilled the same role for the Celtics from 1966 to 1969.
46	* Fujima's second-in-command, the 197 cm/6'6" Toru Hanagata, may probably be based on NBA player [[ImpossiblyGracefulGiant Kevin McHale]] due to his post proficiency, slender build, and tactical way of playing to outwit the defense.
47	** He could also be likened to [[SimpleYetAwesome Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon]] of the Houston Rockets in terms of his fakes reminiscent of the "Dream Shake" (a spin move involving foot pivots and feints).
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Kainan University Affiliated High School]]
51	* Kainan University Affiliated High School, meanwhile, shares the gold and purple colors of the L.A. Lakers.
52	* Therefore, Kainan's unusually bulky, tall, and [[StrongAndSkilled strong point guard]] in [[LightningBruiser Shinichi Maki]] is probably their Magic Johnson, thus making them the "Showtime" Los Angeles Lakers under Magic's leadership. This further parallels the rivalry between Maki and Fujima to Magic Johnson's [[TechnicianVersusPerformer rivalry]] with Larry Bird during their primes.
53	* Soichiro Jin is probably Kainan's closest analog to Creator/KareemAbdulJabbar. He might not share Kareem's position (center), but they share the same tall, thin body.[[note]]Despite Jin's height, he wasn't made a center because he lacked the strength and build needed to face off against beefier centers like Akagi, Uozumi, and even Hanagata. So he instead practiced his threes until he became even more [[ImprobableAimingSkills accurate and consistent]] with the shot than Mitsui.[[/note]] Jin's ability to do consistent threes as a shooting guard is also reminiscent of how unstoppable and accurate Kareem's [[SignatureMove Sky Hook]] is.
54	** He could also be considered a [[CompositeCharacter hybrid]] of Scottie Pippen[[note]](TheLancer and foil to Michael Jordan's [[TheHero protagonist status]] as TheAce of the Chicago Bulls)[[/note]] and Clyde "The Glide" Drexler[[note]](the actual [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrdKLg30_Mk Michael Jordan Expy]] in terms of [[SuperReflexes high-flying athleticism]] before either Penny Hardaway or Kobe Bryant even entered the league, but he lacked Jordan's [[TheDeterminator killer instinct]])[[/note]] in terms of his role in the team.
55	* Instead of a specific NBA player, Nobunaga Kiyotaka serves more as [[MirrorCharacter foil]] to Hanamichi (and his set of NBA influences), with him also being an athletically gifted and brash freshman with a one-sided rivalry against Rukawa.
56	** In terms of his basketball abilities, athleticism, and fashion sense, he's reminiscent of Latrell Sprewell of the New York Knicks.
57	* Speaking of which, Kazuma Takasago seemingly serves more as Kainan's [[{{Expy}} version]] of Akagi (plus his NBA influences) as well, just like with the Kiyotaka and Sakuragi parallel.[[note]]This becomes a major plot point, with Sakuragi accidentally passing the ball to him instead of Akagi at a critical juncture of the Kainan vs. Shohoku game.[[/note]]
58	* The nerdy Yoshinori Miyamasu has an unassuming air to him that hides the fact that he's a reliable three-point shooting guard.
59	** He is reminiscent of Mugsy Bogues for his height and ability as a shooter and scorer.
60	** He is also reminiscent of the often underestimated "Houdini of the Hardwood" Bob Cousy, who looks unimposing at 6'1" for an NBA player yet he's a certified Celtics Hall of Famer.
61	[[/folder]]
62
63	[[folder:Ryonan High School]]
64	* As for Ryonan, they share jersey colors with [[Creator/ShaquilleONeal Shaquille O'Neal's]] Orlando Magic.[[note]]The same Orlando Magic that managed to beat Jordan's Chicago Bulls in 1995 during the playoffs with a score of 108-102.[[/note]]
65	* In turn, Akira Sendo may likely be based on NBA legend [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter Larry "Legend" Bird]] too, just like Fujima (and despite Shoyo being the Boston Celtics analog).[[note]]This is mainly because of Sendo being a scoring forward capable of playing point guard. Sendo also has more of Bird's [[ImpossiblyGracefulGiant imposing height]] and [[AllOrNothing clutch]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEXcN5gK7IU mentality]] compared to Fujima, as seen in the Shohoku practice game. Larry Bird's number in the 1992 United States Men's Olympic Basketball Team is 7, which is also the same as Sendo's number.[[/note]]
66	** Around after 1993, he started resembling [[JackOfAllStats Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway]] more and more (Hardaway started playing for the NBA in 1993)[[note]]as they are both talented point guards [[StrongAndSkilled in spite of their height]]. They both share the same friendly attitude and great ability as playmakers and leaders as well[[/note]].
67	** He could also be based on [[CompositeCharacter Magic Johnson]] like Maki in light of the points above and the fact that they both wear Converse Conquest Mid.[[note]]Speaking of Maki, his acknowledgement of Sendo as a WorthyOpponent could also give more weight to the Bird/Johnson comparison. Coincidentally, in 1996, a [[PassingTheTorch similar]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4cP5BYSHXg meeting]] happened between Magic Johnson and Penny Hardaway.[[/note]]
68	** If Maki is Sendo's Magic Johnson to his Larry Bird, then Rukawa must be his Michael Jordan in turn.[[note]]The heated rivalry between the rookie Rukawa and the veteran Sendo is highly reminiscent of the heated rivalry between Bird and Jordan in the 1980s for sure.[[/note]]
69	* Ryonan's Captain Jun Uozumi is likely based on Dikembe Mutombo and Shaquille O'Neal for their rebounding and shot-blocking abilities as well as Shaq's offensive dunk sets. He could also be Alonzo Mourning based on his rivalry with Ewing Expy Akagi.[[note]]Since Shaq debuted in the NBA in 1992 (although he was a standout in LSU from 1989-1992), the [[BigGuyLittleGuy big man and (relatively) smaller guy]] relationship between Sendo and Uozumi is likely based on the Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tandem or the Larry Bird and Kevin [=McHale=] tandem from the 1980s to the 1990s. It did help that from 1993 onwards, Penny Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal developed a [[AccidentallyCorrectWriting similar]] [[LifeImitatesArt chemistry]] down the line.[[/note]]
70	[[/folder]]
71
72	[[folder:Toyotama High School]]
73	* Because of the Toyotama players being [[VictoryByEndurance physical]] and [[UnnecessaryRoughness rough]] with their play, the team is mostly based on "The Bad Boys" era of the [[GangOfBullies Detroit Pistons]] led by Isiah Thomas.[[note]]They stymied Jordan's early dreams of championship wins with their [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GYKrcM1k0U "Jordan Rules"]].[[/note]]
74	* Although they definitely matched the physicality of the Pistons, the Toyotama playbook isn't a direct copy of the Pistons.[[note]]The Pistons were actually 80% defense and 20% offense instead of the other way around, with Toyotoma more reminiscent of being the [[MirrorMatch mirror image]] of Shohoku in terms of their [[AttackAttackAttack offense-based]] play-style. On the other hand, the Pistons started off as an all-offense team that eventualy developed into a more defensive team that allowed them to win back-to-back championships and stymie Michael Jordan's early ambitions of getting a championship.[[/note]]
75	* Tsuyoshi Minami, the Ace Killer of Toyotama, is reminiscent of Bill Laimbeer because of his rough play-style. Therefore, Rukawa being [[TheDeterminator able to play]] despite his bleeding injury from Minami is reminiscent of how Larry Bird was still able to play despite being injured by a [[https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/01/sports/nba-playoffs-bird-scores-42-as-celtics-take-2-0-lead.html blow to the chin]] by Laimbeer.
76	[[/folder]]
77
78	[[folder:Sanno Industry Affiliated High School]]
79	* The [[DefeatingTheUndefeatable Sannoh/Sanno/Sannou Industry Affiliated High School]], the defending National Champions for three years straight, has jersey colors and a logo reminiscent of the San Antonio Spurs.
80	* As such, the true Penny Hardaway equivalent in ''Slam Dunk'' that arrived around the same time Hardaway was making a name for himself as "The Next [[PassingTheTorch Magic Johnson]]" or "The Next [[{{Pun}} Air]] [[UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan Apparent]]"[[note]](This was before [[TheWrongfulHeirToTheThrone Hardaway's]] [[GameBreakingInjury unfortunate injuries]] and the true, closest Air Apparent, [[NaiveNewcomer Kobe Bryant]], wouldn't enter the league until 1996. Other Air Apparents included Vince Carter, Grant Hill, and Harold "Baby Jordan" Miner.)[[/note]] is [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter Eiji Sawakita]] of Sanno High.[[note]]It's only appropriate that Sendo himself could not beat Sawakita (whom he knows as [[AccidentalMisnaming Kitasawa]] instead) one-on-one, with Eiji being the true Hardaway Expy and all.[[/note]] He could also be an outright [[{{Foil}} better equivalent]] of Michael Jordan than Rukawa as well.[[note]]Sawakita has all the [[FutureMeScaresMe evolved 1990s Jordan skills]] that Rukawa (based on 1980s Jordan) lacks. In fact, Sawakita even wore Number 9, which is Dream Team Jordan's number.[[/note]]
81	* As for fellow Sannoh teammate Masashi Kawata, he may likely be the center version of [[LightningBruiser Sir Charles Barkley]] of Phoenix Suns fame.[[note]]In terms of play-style, they both possess great physiques that they use to [[HardWorkHardlyWorks overwhelm the weaker opposing players]]. Furthermore, they have the same history of [[HeightAngst being short]] during [[TroubledChild childhood]], they share their [[TheCasanova love for women]], they also have a belligerent [[DeadpanSnarker sense of humor]], and they [[{{Expy}} look similar]].[[/note]]
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:Meihou High School]]
85	* The true Shaquille O'Neal equivalent of the ''Slam Dunk'' universe is instead [[UnskilledButStrong Hiroshi Morishige]] of Meihou High School (Aichi's Number One High School basketball-wise). He and Shaq both share the same [[TheBigGuy body shape]], [[SuperStrength style of play]], and [[DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength boundless power]].
86	** A rivalry between him and Hanamichi [[WhatCouldHaveBeen would've been interesting]] in light of the fact that [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fZH60pqLWw Shaq himself admitted]] that Rodman was the only guy who [[https://www.sportsmanor.com/nba-how-a-severely-undersized-61-dennis-rodman-was-able-to-stop-the-most-dominant-71-shaquille-oneal-is-something-fans-are-still-wondering-after-all-these-years/ could guard him]].
87	** Hanamichi and Morishige could also become [[FriendlyEnemy fast friends]] in light of how the [[RivalsTeamUp former rivals]] Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal eventually became VitriolicBestBuds as two of the talking heads on ''Inside the NBA''.
88	[[/folder]]
89
90	!!Miscellaneous
91
92	* Since ''Slam Dunk'' was written during TheNineties when Michael Jordan and the Bulls dominated the NBA for most of the decade, it's expected that there'd be a lot of Jordan shout-outs on its pages or in various [[FreezeFrameBonus anime]] [[EasterEgg scenes]].
93	** Akagi has a poster of Michael Jordan doing a layup in his room.
94	** Rukawa's sneakers are [[https://www.flightclub.com/air-jordans/air-jordan-5 Air Jordan V]], which Jordan wore when he won the 4th scoring title in 1989.
95	** In Mitsui's hospital ward, he has two posters of Michael Jordan dunking. One is a Fake Finger Roll Dunk, the other is the Look-Away Reverse Dunk.
96	** Sakuragi famously wore the [[https://www.flightclub.com/air-jordans/air-jordan-6 Air Jordan 6]]. He eventually got the [[https://sneakernews.com/tag/air-jordan-1-banned/ Nike Air Jordan 1]] instead, given to him by a basketball fan shopkeeper.
97	* Akagi's Jordan poster was initially a poster of Scottie Pippen taking a free throw and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar shooting a Sky Hook or hook shot. Ewing, Abdul-Jabbar, and Pippen all wore No. 33 jerseys in the 80's and/or 90's.
98	* During Episode 6, "Rukawa vs. Akagi: The Real Showdown" and Chapter 12, "Battle of the Real Deals", Haruko brings up Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and how, in UCLA, he was able to beat his seniors as a freshman using his hook shot. [[AuthorAvatar Dr. T]] then talks about the rest of the details at length in his [[BreakingTheFourthWall own segment]].
99	* On Episode 57, "Anzai, Bet on Victory!" and Chapter 123, "Disgrace", Hanamichi is [[HumblePie forced]] to do NBA and ABA player Rick Barry's [[CringeComedy "Granny Shot"]] or [[BoringButPractical Underhand Free Throw Shot]] by instinct in order to improve his free throw percentage against Kainan.
100	** According to Dr. T, Rick Barry used his unorthodox free throw technique during the '78-'79 season of the NBA, succeeding in reaching a surprising 94% accuracy in free throws compared to the flashier hand-flick shooting technique.[[note]]Barry didn't originate the technique, though. It was long ago utilized by NBA legend George "Mr. Basketball" Mikan of the Chicago ''American Gears'' (of the NBL) and ''Minneapolis'' Lakers (of the BAA) back in the 1940s to 1950s. The NBL and BAA would then merge to form the NBA.[[/note]]
101	* The ''Slam Dunk'' author's AuthorAvatar, Dr. T(akehiko Inoue), is a play on the name "Dr. J" given to NBA and ABA legend Julius Irving.
102	* There are [[https://daydaynews.cc/en/sports/398316.html several]] [[https://www.basugasubakuhatsu.com/blog/2005/12/23/slam-dunk-manga-artist-accused-of-plagiarism/ examples]] of author Takehiko Inoue [[http://sonic.net/~tabine/crosscourse/AcademicDishonesty/plagiarism100522.html referencing]] [[https://izreloaded.blogspot.com/2007/02/slam-dunk-copies-from-nba-pics.html photographs]] of real NBA players to make the covers and in-game action poses of the ''Slam Dunk'' manga. Some argue it's outright [[UsefulNotes/{{Plagiarism}} plagiarism]] while others argue it's simple referencing and [[{{Homage}} homage]].

Context ShoutOut / SlamDunk