Line #11 ShoutOut/KurokosBasketball


1	[[quoteright:802:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/nba_and_kuroko.jpg]]
2
3	This is a list of shout-out references for ''Kuroko's Basketball''.
4	----
5	[[foldercontrol]]
6
7	!!Real-Life NBA Player Models
8	Here are the likeliest UsefulNotes/NationalBasketballAssociation (NBA) players that serve as models to the following ''Kuroko's Basketball'' characters.
9
10	[[folder:Seirin High School]]
11	* Tetsuya Kuroko might as well wear a San Antonio Spurs jersey because he's the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manu_Ginobli Manu Ginobili]] analog of Seirin High.[[note]]Like Kuroko, Ginobili is an all-star-tier starter taking on the role of [[SixthRanger sixth man]] in the Spurs to allow the rest of his teammates to shine. Because of this, he was able to help the Spurs [[SpannerInTheWorks stymie]] the championship ambitions of the Miami Heat under [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz-L3rYDdMg LeBron "King" James]] and the L.A. Lakers under [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYikH9bc0i0 Kobe "Black Mamba" Bryant]] multiple times.[[/note]]
12	** The Spurs is also a specific NBA team that relies less on superlative [[SpotlightStealingSquad ace players]] and more on [[TeamSpirit teamwork]] and player chemistry. Just like Seirin High.
13	** Kuroko's [[SignatureMove Ignite Pass]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjSqDiAZvQk Ignite Pass (Kai)]] is definitely a shout-out to Ginobili's own signature [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYcnMVwV3-4 bullet-like quick passing technique]].
14	** The Vanishing Drive, meanwhile, can be considered an exaggerated version of the defender-misdirecting [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_uuArb_bho Euro Step]].
15	** As for his unorthodox passes, they're a mix of Manu's improvised passing, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Williams_(basketball,_born_1975) Jason "White Chocolate" Williams']] creative passes, and even [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Maravich "Pistol" Pete Maravich's]] circus-like stunt passes.
16	* As for Taiga Kagami, it makes sense he'd have the Chicago Bulls jersey since he's quite [[TheAce like]] [[LivingLegend Mike]].
17	** His play-style[[note]]that depends on athleticism, high jumps, the ability to "airwalk" or glide in midair, and powerful dunks[[/note]] is straight out of the playbook of a young [[UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan 1988 Michael Jordan]] with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyHs4DuW8J0 shades]] of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake_Griffin 2010 Blake Griffin]] thrown in for good measure.
18	** When he, like Aomine, gets into [[SuperMode "The]] [[DontThinkFeel Zone"]][[note]]which is a [[NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer real-life]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology) mental concept]][[/note]], his senses and rhythm become so heightened that a scant few other players in the field could keep up with him a la Jordan in his prime.
19	** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRe0i4cPzr8 Kagami against Aomine]] showed that when two roughly equal players are in the zone, their resulting duel is quite beautiful to behold, like watching poetry in motion between [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYB8Ca4xmWU Bird and Magic]], [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRAs5Ju3j7k Jordan and Kobe]], or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v2Tgi7hn-8 LeBron and Curry]]. Or maybe even [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tl3mR6eoEa8 LeBron vs. Jordan]].
20	** His [[SignatureMove Meteor Jam]] in particular has been done by [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwx9HiM4Aw0 Blake]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OorUEN4YTo Griffin]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0GYmWHmWxA many]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv9dTLR2Vgk others]].
21	* As Seirin's shooting guard and team captain, [[SupportingLeader Junpei Hyuga]] fulfills the role of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Gervin George "The Iceman" Gervin]] from the 1970s when it comes to his accurate three-pointers that require NervesOfSteel to accomplish.
22	* [[BunnyEarsLawyer Teppei Kiyoshi]] serves as Seirin's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Duncan Tim Duncan]]. Like Duncan, Kiyoshi is also "The Big Fundamental" with his exceptional skills in defense, rebounding, and scoring.
23	** [[LifeImitatesArt Coincidentally]], Kiyoshi’s [[ConfusionFu "Right of Postponement"]] ability ended up being very similar to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Jokic Nikola Jokic's]] playing style.
24	* [[AwesomeByAnalysis Shun Izuki]] is gifted with the "Eagle Eye" or excellent court vision[[note]](a basketball player's ability to see and understand everything going on the basketball court while in play, as though they're looking at everything from above the court or the bird's eye point of view)[[/note]], making him Seirin's best floor general. Among the Duncan-led Spurs, both Manu Ginobli and the French point guard [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Parker Tony Parker]] possessed excellent court vision.[[note]]Parker's skills also helped San Antonio win four NBA championships.[[/note]]
25	[[/folder]]
26
27	[[folder:Generation of Miracles/Teiko Junior High School]]
28	* [[AllYourPowersCombined Ryouta/Ryota Kise]], the one in the Generation of Miracles with [[PowerCopying copycat powers]], should wear a Golden State Warriors jersey as the Klay Thompson of Kaijo/Kaijou High.
29	** Among the Warriors, Kise is most reminiscent of [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-akm5k8Z65g pre-injury]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klay_Thompson Klay Thompson]] thanks to his [[JackOfAllTrades versatility]] on the court.[[note]]They're both quick enough to defend point guards but powerful enough to hold their own against power forwards. Kise has natural quickness tested to their utmost limits when he did a Perfect Copy on Aomine during the Inter High quarterfinals. He also has enough innate strength to do a Perfect Copy of the bigger Murasakibara's signature shot blocks.[[/note]] He's also just as [[GlassCannon injury-prone]] as Klay.
30	** His copy abilities can also be attributed to the late [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant Kobe Bryant]], who patterned his play-style to the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VfKeXT8bi4 NBA greats of history]] as a true student of the sport[[note]](particularly Michael Jordan, who claims Kobe [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVeS4dKa3E4 "stole"]] all his moves)[[/note]].
31	** Former Golden State Warrior [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Durant Kevin Durant]] is also a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-copZ50sHMg known]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSaSVqpd0Qc "move thief"]].
32	** The MirrorMatch between Touou's Aomine and Kaijo's Kise is reminiscent of the rivalry between [[https://www.youtube.com/shorts/7cNLIV40tbY Kobe (Kise)]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zstwbvwcdQ and Jordan (Aomine)]][[note]]with Kobe slowly but surely becoming more Jordan-like the more they played each other the same way Kise turned into Aomine with his Perfect Copy[[/note]]. Or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unAwziX-tsA Kobe (Kise) and LeBron (Aomine)]].
33	* As for Shūtoku/Shuutoku shooting guard [[ImprobableAimingSkills Shintarou/Shintaro Midorima]], ''of course'' he'd be [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Bird Larry "Legend" Bird]] from the Boston Celtics.
34	** The comparison is in light of his crazy-accurate [[ImprobableAimingSkills jump shots]], his height and length, his underrated abilities as team playmaker, his strategic mind on the court, and his will to win. He even has [[AnimeHair green hair]] that matches the team colors of the Celtics.
35	** Among current NBA players, his closest analog is [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Curry Steph Curry]], who is the league's current leader in three-point scoring ''of all time'' but is much shorter than Midorima.[[note]] There's also [[StrongAndSkilled Kevin Durant]], who is also an accurate, consummate scorer that shares the same build as Midorima. [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Allen Ray Allen]] is another super-accurate and super-tall shooting guard who used to have made the most three pointers of all time before Steph overtook him.[[/note]]
36	** He's reminiscent of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kareem_Abdul-Jabbar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar]] in terms of his shot consistency too. He could do threes as often as Kareem does his patented Sky Hook with just about the same level of accuracy, even when it's being defended against.
37	** It also makes sense that the only one not from the Generation of Miracles to stop his unstoppable long-range shots would be someone like Kagami (the Michael Jordan analog), which is reminiscent of the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BEdqnFdm3o Jordan]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8OdPP2frEc Bird]] [[TechnicianVersusPerformer rivalry]].
38	* Daiki Aomine, TheAce of both Teiko in middle school and Touou in high school, should share jerseys with UsefulNotes/LeBronJames when he was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
39	** His [[CurbStompBattle unstoppable play-style]] and [[JackOfAllStats natural talent]] makes him like King James, but his [[SpotlightStealingSquad selfish "ball hog" play]] and [[BornWinner winning ways]] are more reminiscent of the likes of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.[[note]]James is more [[BenevolentBoss generous]] with his assists to [[TrueCompanions teammates]] for the sake of [[TeamSpirit team play]].[[/note]]
40	** Perhaps he even has shades of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Iverson Allen Iverson]] in him as well, particularly with his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9As38X2s30 street ball]] background and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc2nj9ByD_A unorthodox shots]].
41	** Then again, the formless shot is something Aomine might've specifically gotten from [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CY_BXjL5i8 Kevin Durant]].
42	* Atsushi Murasakibara and his classic [[TheBigGuy big guy]] play-style as a powerful center for both Teiko and Yousen is definitely reminiscent of Creator/ShaquilleONeal, particularly when Shaq was playing for the Phoenix Suns.
43	** However, his all-defense bullish play-style of guarding under the basket like a wall is reminiscent of two other NBA legends--the 11-time champion and Celtic center [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Russell Bill Russell]] or his rival, the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJGCySdvlPo freak of nature]] [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilt_Chamberlain Wilt Chamberlain]].
44	* [[InconsistentSpelling Seijuurou/Seijuro]] Akashi of Rakuzan High should naturally wear an L.A. Lakers jersey. His equivalent in the NBA is either (a shorter version of) Kobe Bryant or [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Johnson Magic Johnson]].
45	** He might be Magic because of his passing abilities and because he had his own [[TheStrategist cerebral]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cEYGS8rc3I approach]] to the game that elevates the rest of his team with his plays.
46	** He might also be Kobe because he's known for his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YQ6AuqPTEg ankle breakers]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMLASbQJNI4 analytical, predictive defense]] as well.
47	** Akashi's [[AwesomenessByAnalysis "Emperor Eye"]] personality is definitely reminiscent of Kobe's [[AllOrNothing "Mamba Mentality"]] and [[ItsAllAboutMe ball-hogging]] tendencies or Magic's [[{{Determinator}} indominable determination]] to win against rival [[TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou Larry Bird's Celtics]][[note]]hence his rivalry with the similarly strategy-minded Midorima[[/note]].
48	** The way Kobe doesn't flinch with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYLR4BcX7Rg Matt Barnes' fake pass]] to his face is reminiscent to when Emperor Eye Akashi does the same thing with Midorima's fake pass.
49	** However, his height, his moves like the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHsd2OPIADo elbow pass]], and his amazing assists that work to his teammates' strengths make him more of a shout-out to the likes of Jason Williams[[note]](especially when it comes to his shorter stature and [[SplitPersonality original personality's]] play-style... also, his [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmw8F5l1odw ankle breakers]])[[/note]] or Allen Iverson[[note]](who's also a [[PintSizedPowerhouse shorter yet skilled]] baller... with a killer [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwSpSCR1JW4 ankle breaker]] himself)[[/note]].
50	* For Tetsuya Kuroko, refer to the Seirin High School folder.
51	[[/folder]]
52
53	[[folder:Yousen High School]]
54	* Tatsuya Himuro, Kagami's childhood friend and shooting guard of Yousen, should sport a New York Knicks jersey as Yousen's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmelo_Anthony Carmelo Anthony]].
55	** Among the Knicks, Himuro has a [[SimpleYetAwesome highly refined play-style]] reminiscent of Melo, who has so many features to his offensive game that he can score in so many different ways, inside and out.
56	** Melo is also capable of [[https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8GRZmr3Nn8I the]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NcTxrQ99ek fake-outs]] Himuro is [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZFP5xaN5jM famous for]].
57	** This might be the closest [[https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pX11ah6heLk real-life example]] of Himuro's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SLDrVYZhj8 Mirage Shot]]. It's also reminiscent (less so) of Kuroko's [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnCLbBvJSo4 Phantom Shot]].
58	* As for Atsushi Murasakibara, refer to the Generation of Miracles folder.
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder:Kirisaki Daiichi High School]]
62	* [[JerkJock Makoto]] [[CripplingTheCompetition Hanamiya]] of the Uncrowned Kings is Kirisaki Daiichi High's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isiah_Thomas Isiah Thomas]].
63	** He's even nicknamed "The Bad Boy" for good measure, which is also what the 1980s [[GangOfBullies Detroit Pistons]] were called.
64	** Like Hanamiya, the Pistons were also dubbed "The Bad Boys" during the 80s and the early 90s due to their [[LoopholeAbuse underhanded]], [[UnnecessaryRoughness rough]], and [[VictoryByEndurance physical]] style of play. [[note]]This play-style was directly aimed at Michael Jordan with their [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GYKrcM1k0U "Jordan Rules"]] due to Michael's initially skinny frame.[[/note]]
65	* The rest of the Kirisaki Daiichi High players played the same aggressive defense style as their real-life "Bad Boy" Pistons counterparts, so their entire team could be a collective shout-out to the 1980s Pistons.
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:In General]]
69	* Tadatoshi Fujimaki, creator of the original manga, paired each character with one of the 30 NBA teams for the ''Kuroko's Basketball: Last Game'' and NBA [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpGB-SA0Di8 collaboration]], and character designer Youko Kikuchi drew [[https://otakumode.com/news/58afdd7ddb329c704dde9fe8/ anime illustrations]] to match. Based on their jerseys, you can conclude which of the top characters in ''Kuroko no Basket'' represents which specific NBA players.
70	* Speaking of the NBA, here's a Website/YouTube [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eSVt9AXWBI video compilation]] of the different special moves that ''Kuroko no Basket'' characters have and their potential real-life NBA inspirations.
71	[[/folder]]
72
73	!!References in ''The Last Game''
74
75	The movie ''Kuroko's Basketball: The Last Game'' has multiple references going for it.
76
77	[[folder:Team Jabberwock]]
78	* [[https://kurokonobasuke.fandom.com/wiki/Jason_Silver Jason Silver]] is likely an even closer Expy to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LeBron_James LeBron James]] than Aomine is. [[note]]It's because he is renowned for having great athleticism despite his size. They're also both African Americans.[[/note]]
79	** Meanwhile, his first name might have been taken from famous NBA Jasons like [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Kidd Jason Kidd]] or Jason Williams.
80	* [[https://kurokonobasuke.fandom.com/wiki/Nash_Gold Nash Gold Jr.]] is likely based on NBA player [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Nash Steve Nash]].[[note]]The two share the same name, height, weight, and position. They're also both Caucasians and they both played for the NBA.[[/note]]
81	** However, from what he had shown based on his play-style, it can be said that he is instead based on the former Boston Celtics player [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Cousy Bob Cousy]] and his "[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTsjubxYxAE eyes at the back of his head]]" type of plays.[[note]]In addition to play-style, the two also share similar nicknames. Gold is the "Magician" while Bob Cousy is "The Houdini of the Hardwood".[[/note]]
82	[[/folder]]
83
84	[[folder:In General]]
85	* The street ball exhibition match of Team Jabborwock against Team Strky, meanwhile, is reminiscent of the types of games regularly played by the [[WesternAnimation/TheHarlemGlobetrotters Harlem Globetrotters]].
86	* The combined team of [[AllStarCast former Teiko Teammates]] plus [[SixthRanger Kagami]] is referred to in-universe as the Dream Team, which is a reference to the real-life [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1992_United_States_men%27s_Olympic_basketball_team 1992 U.S. Olympic Basketball Dream Team]] composed of NBA Legends and Hall of Famers like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, and Charles Barkley.
87	* The name of the Dream Team, Team Vorpal Swords, refers to the sword found in [[Creator/LewisCarroll Lewis Carroll's]] 1871 nonsense poem "Literature/{{Jabberwocky}}". Team Jabberwock is also named after the same poem.
88	* Kuroko stealing the ball from Nash Gold in the penultimate possession of the game has [[HilariousInHindsight shades]] of Manu Ginobli's from-behind [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjUgDgcAIXY game-winning block]] on James Harden during Game 5 of San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets in 2017.[[note]]This is more of a shout-out from the anime movie than the manga version that was published about a year before Game 5 happened.[[/note]]
89	[[/folder]]
90
91	!!References to ''Slam Dunk''
92
93	One of Tadatoshi Fujimaki's favorite manga/anime is ''Manga/SlamDunk'', so naturally ''Kuroko's Basketball'' is full of references to the series.
94
95	* Taiga Kagami can be considered an Expy of [[BoisterousBruiser Hanamichi Sakuragi]] for all the same reasons that he's a dunk-happy Expy of Michael Jordan mixed with Blake Griffin (Kagami is obviously a better scorer and shooter than the rebound king Hanamichi though). They also share the same jersey number of No. 10.
96	* Shintarou Midorima might be a shooting guard, but his appearance and build is highly reminiscent of Shoyo's center, [[ImpossiblyGracefulGiant Toru Hanagata]]. Most anything not involving Midorima's insane shooting abilities harken back to Hanagata, like his tallness, his eye glasses, his defensive capabilities, and his strategic play.
97	* Although it's a bit of a stretch, Junpei Hyuuga/Hyuga looks a bit like Kiminobu Kogure in appearance rather than [[HairTriggerTemper attitude]]. Hyuga is a closer Expy attitude-wise to [[ImprobableAimingSkills Hisashi Mitsui]] though.[[note]]Both are shooting guards with accurate 3-pointers, both are prone to anger, and both are guys who keep the team together. Close with the coach as well. Also had a delinquent phase, although Hyuga was more of a "delinquent wannabe".[[/note]]
98	* Teiko Captain Shuuzo Nijimura also acts quite like Mitsui Hisashi[[note]]including being a delinquent who stole a motorcycle once[[/note]]. However, in his case it's more of an [[ActorAllusion allusion]] to the [[Creator/RyotaroOkiayu man who voiced him]].
99	* Speaking of allusion, [[AloofAlly Kaede Rukawa's]] [[Creator/HikaruMidorikawa voice actor]] has somehow ended up in ''Kuroko's Basketball: The Last Game'' as well by voicing the ankle-breaking [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter Nash]] [[SmugSnake Gold Jr.]]
100	* Ryouta Kise having a [[EstrogenBrigade horde of fangirls]] follow him every game is also reminiscent of Kaede Rukawa's [[ChickMagnet shtick]] in ''Slam Dunk''.
101	* Aspects of the Kaede Rukawa and Hanamichi Sakuragi [[RedOniBlueOni rivalry]] were switched around for the [[LightDarknessJuxtaposition light and shadow]] tandem of Tetsuya Kuroko and Taiga Kagami.
102	** For example, Kuroko has Rukawa's [[ByronicHero brooding, quiet personality]] but like Sakuragi, he's the liability of his team that has to work on a [[CripplingOverspecialization specific skill]] to help them out.
103	** Meanwhile, Kagami has the abundance of [[TheGift athletic talent]] and potential that Sakuragi has, but he's not a novice in basketball. Therefore, he's more of the Rukawa type of basketball player who's a [[TalentedButTrained gifted but hardworking]] scorer and slasher when on the court.
104	** Both Kuroko and Sakuragi couldn't take on TheAce of their respective teams one-on-one either.
105	* The ending of Seirin vs. Touou where an exhausted Seirin ended up sleeping in the locker room is a [[https://imgur.com/a/TisZbU3 shout-out]] to the ending of Shohoku vs. Shoyo in ''Slam Dunk'', with Shohoku doing the same thing (especially when compared to the anime version of the scene).
106
107	!!Miscellaneous
108
109	* [[JackOfAllStats Shinji Koganei]], the small forward reserve player of Seirin, looks a lot like Kaoru Koganei of ''Manga/FlameOfRecca'' fame.
110	* According to WordOfGod, Junpei Hyuga is actually the Expy or AuthorAvatar of ''Kuroko no Basket'' author Tadatoshi Fujimaki. They really do [[https://myanimelist.net/people/6854/Tadatoshi_Fujimaki look]] [[https://myanimelist.net/character/22254/Junpei_Hyuuga alike]] though.
111	* In Chapter 94, look very closely at this [[https://imgur.com/a/EpFw98Z image]], you may just see someone [[Manga/OnePiece familiar.]]
112	** In that same chapter, when Hyuuga orders the first years to decide who cleans the fungus-infested locker using [[RockPaperScissors jan-ken-pon]] and Kagami objects to the hierarchy:
113	--->'''Hyuuga:''' "You're in Japan. [[Film/ThreeHundred Dis!]] [[GratuitousEnglish Iz!]] [[PunctuatedForEmphasis Zapan!!]]"
114	* Tsuchida being [[Manga/AzumangaDaioh bit by a cat]] before the Touou game.
115	* Chapter 19 of ''Replace Plus'' has Hyuga work in a figurine shop, and several of them are of ''Manga/OnePiece'' characters.

Context ShoutOut / KurokosBasketball