Hanamichi Sakuragi, notorious for his short temper, towering height, and fiery red hair, enrolls in Shohoku High School. He hopes to finally secure a girlfriend and break his middle school record of being rejected 50 times in a row. However, his bad reputation precedes him, causing most students to avoid him. Following certain events, Hanamichi is left with two steadfast convictions: "I hate basketball," and "I desperately need a girlfriend." One day, a girl named Haruko Akagi approaches him, unaware of his troublemaking history, and asks if he likes basketball. Hanamichi instantly falls head over heels for her, blurting out an enthusiastic yes. She then takes him to the gymnasium and asks if he can perform a slam dunk. Trying to impress Haruko, he attempts the leap but overshoots, slamming his head directly into the blackboard instead. When Haruko tells the basketball team's captain about Hanamichi's near-superhuman physical abilities, he gradually finds himself drawn into the camaraderie and competition of the sport he had previously resented.