The essential episodes of Kuroko's Basketball

Watch these 15 in order and you've got Kuroko's Basketball — each pick states its reason.

1. 01

   S01E01 · Pilot · April 8, 2012 · 24m

   I Am Kuroko6.6

   While recruiting for the basketball club, the Seirin Private High school has managed to pick up some impressive players; a power house, former American player, and a member of the “Generation of Miracles.

2. 02

   S01E08 · Season 1 peak · May 27, 2012 · 24m

   Now That I Think About It6.7

   Seirin takes on Seiho, a squad built around an invincible defense. The unorthodox manner in the way Seiko moves is finally understood, but it may be too late. Will Seirin's streak finally be shutdown?

3. 03

   S01E10 · Top rated · June 10, 2012 · 24m

   I Can't Have That6.7

   Kuroko has rejoined the game in the final moments, but it seems that one of the players has him figured out. Seirin is playing hard, but if they win, will they have the strength to play a 2nd game

4. 04

   S01E12 · Top rated · June 24, 2012 · 24m

   What Is "Victory"6.7

   The pressure of the game is causing Kagami skills to rapidly increase; he continues to score keeping Seirin in the game. But his thoughts are turning darker and self-serving

5. 05

   S02E10 · Top rated · December 8, 2013 · 24m

   It's Trust6.7

   Seirin leads by 5 points going into the 2nd half, and Kirisaki Daiichi executes their trap, in which Hanamiya gets his steals with 100% accuracy, and Seirin just has fallen under this trap. Kuroko suggests the team to take a gamble of trust in each other in order to break free of this trap. Will Seirin get their ticket to the Winter Cup?

6. 06

   S02E11 · Top rated · December 15, 2013 · 24m

   Don't Be Ridiculous6.7

   Seirin managed to break free of Kirisaki Daiichi's 'spider web'. However, the game is still not over with Hanamiya having another card up his sleeves. Will Seirin still get their berth at the Winter Cup or is it over for them?

7. 07

   S02E13 · Top rated · January 5, 2014 · 24m

   Definitely This Time6.7

   Before the Winter Cup starts, Akashi summons the rest of the Generation of Miracles, along with Kuroko. Kagami also joins in and it is a bad first meeting between Akashi and Kagami. The highly anticipated match between Seirin and Tōō Academy starts, and who will take the advantage?

8. 08

   S02E14 · Top rated · January 12, 2014 · 24m

   Useless Effort6.7

   Seirin managed to keep on pace with Tōō Academy. However, things just don't go right when Kuroko has both his moves being stopped consecutively by Aomine. How will Seirin come back to the game?

9. 09

   S02E15 · Top rated · January 19, 2014 · 24m

   I Think He's Extremely Happy6.7

   Kagami managed to hold Aomine and put Seirin close to Tōō Academy. Only down by 2, Seirin seemed to be able to keep in pace. However, another crisis would soon happen. How will this hinder Seirin's chances of winning the rematch?

10. 10

    S02E16 · Top rated · January 25, 2014 · 24m

    We Win Now!6.7

    Imayoshi is able to immobilise Kuroko, and Sakurai manages to stop Hyuga's Barrier Jumper, both actions being instructed by Momoi. Aomine goes past Kagami and makes a 360 spin dunk at the same time. All 5 Touou players are now able to see Kuroko. However, this actually leads to a trap set by Kuroko, when Izuki goes past Imayoshi with a Vanishing Drive, something the crowd thought only Kuroko can pull off, and scores. Hyuga also managed to bypass Sakurai with a Vanishing Drive too, and scored. The revelation of Misdirection Overflow has pulled Seirin to within single digit difference. However, Imayoshi scores a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to put Touou's lead to 11, ending the 3rd quarter. Before timeout expires, Aomine did not pay attention as the rest of the players return to the court. 4th quarter starts, and Seirin starts off with Hyuga combining his Barrier Jumper and Kuroko's Misdirection Overflow to avoid Sakurai's quick defense and scores a 3-pointer, putting the difference back to 8. The real Aomine will reveal himself soon, so how will Seirin cope with the Aomine even more stronger than they have faced in the first half?

11. 11

    S02E17 · Top rated · February 1, 2014 · 24m

    I Believe in Him6.7

    At this stage, stopping the stronger Aomine has become the priority for Seirin, if not the latter will lose the game. After slowing getting back into the game, Seirin suddenly could not stop the Aomine who has entered the Zone. However, Kagami has managed to stop Aomine and what will the battle of the aces be like?

12. 12

    S02E18 · Season 2 peak · February 8, 2014 · 24m

    I Won't Lose7.0

    An intense battle between the Aces of their teams, Aomine and Kagami, begins. Both never give in to each other and blocked the shots of each other. The other players on the court are very amazed at the battle of the Aces in the Zone, which makes their focus and reaction speed to be at their maximums. Kagami goes to drive past Aomine and scores a basket, to cut Tōō's lead to just 3, 95-98, with 41.5 seconds left. In the next possession for Tōō, Aomine found it difficult to drive past Kagami, but he quickly goes for a Formless Shot.

13. 13

    S03E01 · Season 3 peak · January 10, 2015 · 24m

    I'm Just Going at Full Strength7.3

    After defeating Yōsen High, Seirin is interviewed for Basketball Monthly. After the interview Kagami heads outside to visit with his old friend, Tatsuya Himuro, and Alex, but instead of being able to resolve their differences he runs into one Shōgo Haizaki of Fukuda Sōgō Academy. He is trying to flirt with Alex, making Kagami mad, but before Kagami can act Kise arrives on the scene and reveals that Haizaki was a starter on the Generation of Miracles team before he arrived. Kagami heads back in to ask Kuroko about this news only to find out the final quarterfinal will feature a showdown between Kise and Haizaki, with the winner moving on to face Seirin in the semifinals.

14. 14

    S03E15 · Top rated · April 19, 2015 · 24m

    We Already7.3

    The old coach advises to Aomine to keep playing basketball until he can find a worthy opponent. Teiko wins the National finals. The old coach collapses and the young one takes over coaching the team. The team individually undergoes rapid growth in power. Aomine leaves mid-practice and the coach gives him permission to skip practices, leaving Aomine in even more despair. After an act of insubordination, Akashi goes head to head with Murasakibara, and just when Akashi is about to lose, he switches personalities and crushes Murasakibara. Akashi gives the rest of the team permission to skip practice as long as they win matches. He later tells Kuroko who failed to convince Aomine that there is two of him.

15. 15

    S03E25 · Series finale · July 1, 2015 · 24m

    Many Times Over7.0

    With 40 seconds left in the game, Rakuzan is in the lead, 105-98. Kagami scores with 27 seconds left. With 17 seconds left, Izuki is the only one not fired up, deliberately trying to keep calm and use his head to catch Rakuzan off-guard. He predicts that Rakuzan will take a shot and steals the ball, making a perfect pass to Hyuga. Hyuga forces a foul as he scores a three and is allowed a free throw. Hyuga's shot rebounds and Kiyoshi uses his last strength to take it. With three seconds left the ball is passed to Kuroko, who goes to shoot. Akashi defends but Kuroko states "I am the shadow", and Kagami does one of his impossible jumps to dunk and Seirin win, 105-106, winning the Winter Cup. Akashi experiences his first ever loss, but is thankful to Kuroko and congratulates him with tears in his eyes. Some days later, Seirin see Kiyoshi off at the airport, as he is going overseas to get a surgery for his knee. Meanwhile 3rd years from Seirin's opponent teams are studying for college, while their teams appoint new captains and prepare for the next season of Basketball. Seirin return to school to practice but Kuroko is late. Kagami is sent to find him, and Kuroko explains that he was getting a photo from Momoi. As Kuroko and Kagami head back to practice, Kuroko's locker opens to reveal the photo- a team photo of the Generation of Miracles reunited.