Although the original release of “Kuroko’s Basketball” was in 2017, Netflix has recently released the first out of three seasons of the anime with both subbed and dubbed versions available. Subbed refers to watching the show in the original japanese version with english subtitles, while dubbed means to watch the show in english.

The show begins with the introduction of Tetsuya Kuroko, a first year on the Seirin High School basketball team. He comes from Teiko Middle School, a well known school that graduated a group of basketball players known as “The Generation of Miracles.” Kuroko played with the prodigies throughout middle school, but found that he wanted to play basketball as a team, rather than working as individual players. 

Going into high school, Kuroko met Taiga Kagami, a transfer student from America who desired to defeat “The Generation of Miracles.” Kuroko and Kagami became a first year duo, working together with their team in hopes that they would not only defeat each of the prodigies on their respective new teams, but also convince them that working as a team is the best form of basketball. 

Despite being a show about sports, viewers that have no interest in basketball can still enjoy the show. The show includes practices and games within each episode, but the bonds between the characters and the dramaticized presentation of basketball make the show more enjoyable. 

Flashbacks to friendships between old teammates and growing bonds between Kagami and Kuroko are the main focus of the show. Each player is also seen to have major increases in strength or moments of great realization, which, although extremely unrealistic in an actual basketball game, makes the show intriguing. 

The show also contains both intense and comedic moments, which balance the show and improve its quality. The characters are seen to have fierce passion for the sport, while also having moments where they joke with each other and lighten the mood.

One concern that comes with shows about sports is of repetitiveness. Since the plot of the show is to watch the characters play the same game episode after episode, it is understandable that viewers will fear facing boredom soon after starting the show.

In spite of this concern, this show does a phenomenal job of creating scenarios within each game that make them unique and keep the audience interested. In addition, the players slowly develop new skills that are exciting when revealed.

Kagami and Kuroko go through the most improvements throughout the season and are seen with new strategies and specific basketball moves that aid them against particular opponents. Much like sophomore Kate Kohnstamm, it is easy to get swept up in their race to grow stronger and reach the top.

“The characters are extremely likeable and it’s interesting to see their growth and development throughout the three seasons,” said Kohnstamm. “You get attached and you find yourself genuinely cheering for them to win.”

I would absolutely recommend this show. Although the other two seasons are not yet on Netflix, all 25 episodes of the first season are extremely entertaining and I easily found myself attached to the characters and their stories.