We never saw the Nationals arc animated (until the new The First Slam Dunk movie in 2022). For 25 years, fans were left wondering if Sakuragi ever became a star. If he ever got the girl. If Shohoku beat the mighty Sannoh. Rating: 10/10 broken hearts.
Slam Dunk was never about the destination; it was about the climb. Episode 75 captures the purity of high school sports: the season always ends too soon. The buzzer always beats you. Slam Dunk Episode 75
Toei Animation famously stopped adapting because author Takehiko Inoue was unhappy with the film’s pacing and quality. But by stopping here—on a raw, emotional victory—they accidentally created a masterpiece of anticlimax. Let’s be honest: The final shot of Episode 75 is a tearjerker. The team carries the injured Sakuragi off the court. Haruko hands him a towel. He gives her a thumbs up, and then the screen fades to black. We never saw the Nationals arc animated (until
Do both. It’s worth it. Did Episode 75 make you cry as a kid? Or are you a Rukawa fan who was just glad he got the ball? Let me know in the comments below! If Shohoku beat the mighty Sannoh
But in Episode 75, the delusion becomes reality.