The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan's greatest manga creators.Winning isn't everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain's dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it?Now that they've made it to the Nationals, Shohoku learns exactly where they rank in the overall standings compared to some of the other teams, and they don't like it! Shocked to learn that they're only a C-ranked team, they've got to get their game on to beat their A-ranked first round opponent, Toyotama. Even if they beat Toyotama, Shohoku's opponent in the second round is last year's champion, Sanno Kogyo. For Sakuragi, Akagi, Rukawa and the boys of Shohoku High, the real game begins now!