I'm not really a big fan of Shounen manga and I'm not really a big fan of basketball but this manga has somewhat changed my opinion on Shounen manga. I've been delaying this series for quiet a while now but since I have taken it up, I did not regret reading it! It's fast paced, fun and imo you could sense the tension every time in the match. I would normally give out 10/10 for this manga but I gave it an 8 instead because of my personal reasons.
I love Kuroku for his personality and his funny relationship with everybody especially with Kagami (I think that's his name...) This series actually made me stay up really late because you can't wait to see what's going to happen next!

This is definitely a good manga at first, even if you're not a sports fan (I dislike televised sports; too boring). There are some very annoying parts, like how so many of these abnormally giant kids (especially for Japan) do things only adults can do, the cliche next rival is always stronger than the last, and how Kuroko finishes Kagami's sentences. I'd beat that little twerp bloody if he kept doing that. Also, this whole misdirection and lack of presence just doesn't work out. In order to misdirect someone, you must first make your presence known. Glancing around doesn't misdirect somebody's attention that well and it only works for a split second if it does. Now, if Kuroko is pointing at something while gawking, that may cause them to look in the general direction he's pointing for a bit, but not if they're seriously playing basketball. Sure, make the argument that this is a manga, but by using a little common sense you can tell many mangakas strive for realistic situations. This manga fits the bill of a mangaka striving for realism.
Anyways, this manga is pretty good, but the exciting feeling you get at the first few matches fades over time and it becomes somewhat repetitive. Team faces seemingly insurmountable circumstances, team falls behind in points, team/player(s) overcomes some ineptitude, team beats opposition by >10 points, rinse and repeat with a stronger rival each time until team gets beaten, train, train, train, and repeat until team beats biggest rival/wins toughest tournament. They usually always win the second time around. It's a generic way to keep the audience spellbound. That type usually doesn't appeal to me, but since I've read so far, I may as well see it to the end. Slam Dunk is much better in almost every way. It's "not too little and not too much" style is much more appealing, such as Sakuragi's slam dunks not happening often so you really feel the excitement when he manages one. The competitiveness within and outside the main team was also a great aspect that could have made this manga better. Then again, it'd be one step closer to being a knock-off. Just too much of the same thing over and over. The manga's entertainment value begins to plummet between chapter 50 and chapter 60.
In the end, the concepts are interesting and new (as far as I know). They did use Slam Dunk's main character's jumping ability. Interesting how both main protagonists from both series share the same talent. It does go a bit overboard with Midorima's and Aomine's ability. Well, maybe more like it goes a lot overboard. Still, it's well worth trying out despite my harsh criticisms. Basketball fans may get offended by the unrealistic talents, though.

For those who were a bit harsh in your comments, you gotta understand that this manga is FICTIONAL! It has a basketball concept but that's pretty much it! Some of you say that the mangaka is disgracing basketball but he is just putting in his own twist in it! Inagaki Riichiro did the same thing with Eyeshield 21. Sure the situation and sport is different but that doesn't change the fact that both the mangaka are merely drawing what they imagined the sport would be like should it be in a fictional world.

IMO, Kuroko no Basket is fascinatingly fun and a very enjoyable read! The characters are adorable, the plot is the usual, the abilities are cool and it defines an entirely new sport! If the mangaka was disgracing basketball, why is the name of the type of shoots still the same? Why is the timing still the same? Why does the normal rules of basketball still apply? Why is it so hard for some of you to accept this? I myself play basketball, and from the bottom of my heart, I truly hope that this manga will be accepted by everyone.

Not easy drawing a manga so plz appreciate what you've got here! Slam dunk is still the all time favourite basketball manga but don't think low of Kuroko no Basket just because they deviate from the original sport!

Yes, it is sorta unrealistic but I like it anyway. The characters are pretty good and I find it funny as well haha. I even cried at one particular point. I think that the best arc was the Winter Cup when they had a rematch with Aomine. I like the manga even more now because I also liked the relationships between the characters. It's a fun read. I liked it. 10/10

all im going to say is that iv read and watched anime solely for the love of the characters (mainly kuroko sooooo cute XD the basketball theme was very interesting but as @Blades452 says the problem for this manga (and for almost every sports manga) is that the matches get repetative. well maybe im a girl and dont get it but really the first 5-6 matches i enjoyed and plus iv play basketball in the summer all the time and really love it. so in short:
characters - 9/10 (9 because i really dont like when most of the characters are boys or girls, i mean there was only one girl coach :3 i really like her too)
plot- 7/10 because at the start its really interesting andmakes great impact but it starts to wear off after sometime (it happened when reading prince of tennis too ;-0
art-9/10 i really like it, i mean i got sick of those nonproportional bodys of boys in shoujo manga, so i really liked the art (mainly kurokos design >///<
anime- 8/10 um dont scold me for talking about anime on this site its still connected to the original manga. the action scenes were really good and pulled me in and i absolutely adored kagami and his slightly american character
all in all - 8/10 for a sports manga thats a pretty high score for me ^>^ read it even if youre a girl!!!!!
UPDATE: read up until chp.150 and its freaking awasome!!!! XD i dont know it suddenly pulled me in again. spoiler: there are surrently 3 main girls in the manga*w*

... Last updated on July 11th, 2012, 7:11am

I don't know how much different the show is but I am judging this based off the manga.. If I was gonna review the anime I would review it on an anime site not mangaupdates unlike some fools here. From what I can tell from this manga, because of it's main premise people are either mostly going to like it and some are going to hate it. Unfortunately I find myself somewhat in the middle here and see the flaws that this manga has. The matches themselves got awfully repetitive pretty quick, as another review said before it's just really one team powering up than the other team gets a power up and it goes back and forth. Also feel like the tension between the two opponent teams isn't there. Kuroko's special ability as the "Phantom sixth man" was very interesting but boring to read in action, the author just seemed to have a hard time incorporating this idea legitimately in a way that makes sense while losing it's entertainment value. Outside the action of basketball I find it to be more so entertaining, the characters were good as well as the comedy. While I'm not one to call out others, I'm not gonna sit here and imply anyone who dislike the manga a "smartass" or "know-it-all" like some blind fanboy nor am I gonna greatly exaggerate why this manga is bad. Worse where I write the review for the anime version of this series on a manga site. While I wouldn't recommend this manga, I wouldn't say I wasted my time reading this since I did had some fun reading it.

I wasn't a fan at first, matter of fact I kinda hated the idea behind it but then the anime started, I was bored so I figured I'd just check it out...so right now and just like that, it got to the point where I couldn't wait for more episodes, so in just a really short time I went and read the whole thing and catch up with the guys who are scanlating it (btw thanks imangascans).

This show reminds me a lot of Eyeshield21 and Prince of Tennis and both were 2 series that I was really fond of and really enjoyed for what they were "ENTERTAINMENT" and this series did not fell short either...it is good entertainment, it's interesting, it's funny, it's not too over the top, the characters are all likeable, the art is not that great (the art in the anime on the other hand is awesome) but it doesn't bother me much, it is kinda cliche in the sense where each time, they have to play another team with a player who stands out a lot more and has some crazy ability that they will have to deal with and then in the end, they'll win by a close call...but what the heck, that has always been the formula and it has work so far so leave it be, nothing wrong with that...

With that said, I've read some comments about the author supposedly "dumbing down basketball" or that the author has only being talking about characters and not the actual game or the love of the game...seriously people, It's a manga and I believe that everything that the author has done with it so far has made it really interesting and a lot more enjoyable to read. Also keep in mind the title of the manga is THE BASKETBALL WHICH KUROKO PLAYS. If I were a smartass and a know-it-all, I'd say that title is saying that this manga is talking about a certain "character" and how that "character" is playing "basketball" and explain what kind of "basketball" it is. In Kuroko's case, it involves a player who stays in the shadows of others allowing everybody else to shine but himself all the while making sure that they stay and play as a team and not just having each and every one of them going after their own fame like the generation of miracle did. Obviously there is more to it but that's basically the gist of it...in any case, since I'm not a smartass nor am i a know-it-all, I'll just let anybody and everybody come up with their own analysis and explanation of the title...Plus reading a sport manga that just talks about the "sport in itself" with nothing else is kinda boring to me. I play basketball and watch it all the time on tv, if I'm gonna read a manga about it (or any other kind of sport manga for that matter), it better has some fantasy or some supernatural but cool stuff going on in there to keep me watching, if not, I'll just go back and hit the court or sit on my couch and watch a damn game. So, if it is real basketball that you are looking for then go watch the nba or something, cause you ain't gonna find it here!!!

Overall really good show...it's got a 10 in my book

... Last updated on June 19th, 2012, 11:15pm

The idea of the Generation of Miracle and Kuroko's playing style is great. Beyond that there is slick artwork and occasionally enjoyable character interaction.

But the bulk of the series is on the games, which are set up very simplistically. Characters go through the motions of introducing an opponent who has certain qualities and proceed to overcome that, so the series doesn't quite manage tension. It also doesn't do what sports manga should, which is involving readers in the love for the sport, like what Hikaru no Go did for Go, and what Eyeshield21 did for American football.

Not kidding ourselves here, Kuroko is actually popular because of the distinctly yaoi-flavored dynamic, but it's not fine for the story to be about characters instead of basketball, because in many ways basketball should define them.

I have a weird habit of reading a manga after looking at some awesome fan arts of it regardless of its popularity. I just happened to come across this one and started reading it even though I'm not particularly fond of sports. I love the characters. They are uplifting and full of spirit. They never give up even after they horribly lost a match. It makes me feel like I could do anything, though it's short-lived. And I like the characters' personalities too. I learned a lot about basketball from reading this manga. The positions, the moves, and strategies.
The only thing I dislike is that it focuses solely on the basketball life of the players. They hardly show anything from their personal lives. The matches are great to watch, but it felt somewhat repetitive.

Oh, something random I thought of was that the "Zone" thing from the Winter Cup between Seirin and Touou was too hilarious. It just reminded me of Black Rock Shooter, with flame/lightning on the eyes.

Overall, I don't regret reading this manga. The plot, art, and characters are great. I would recommend it to newcomers of shounen manga and sports-loving fans.

... Last updated on August 9th, 2012, 10:27pm

So, here's my review :

-Story 9/10
Really love it !! It looks like it has its own world. First, before i read it, i think it would be like Slam Dunk, but it's really different, the people have their own abilities ( something like Inazuma Eleven but without fires and bang!! ), it's somewhat make the manga interesting.

Well, it's manga guys ... don't compare it too hard on reality Basketball .. i think it's not a disgrace for Basketball ..

Characters 9/10

This's what makes it so interesting .. The characters have their own personalities and abilities, very recommended for ones who like extraordinarity in manga ..

Art 7/10

Not so grand ( One Piece is grand XD ) .. but it's understandable ..
but, The Anime's art is so gooooddd ..

So that's my review .. No offense guys ..