Kuroko’s Basketball: 10 Strongest Players, Ranked

In Kuroko’s Basketball, many of the players who step onto the court possess incredible strength and skill. Whether they are defensive specialists, shooting aces, or perceptive point guards, there are many talented players who contribute to their team’s success.

However, there are a few players who distinguish themselves as the strongest players in the anime due to their strength and skill. Without considering the players of team Jabberwock, who appear only in Kuroko’s Basketball: Last Game, these are the strongest players in Kuroko’s Basketball. 

10 Makoto Hanamiya’s Basketball IQ Is Amazing

In every anime about sports, there is always a dirty player that fans can root against. Known as “The Bad Boy” of the Uncrowned Kings, Makoto Hanamiya is arguably the dirtiest player in Kuroko’s Basketball. He purposely tries to injure other players and instructs his teammates to do the same, but despite his underhanded tactics, he is also an elite point guard.

With an IQ of 160, Hanamiya’s grasp on the game of basketball is second to none. In addition to serving as Kirisaki Daichi High’s team captain, he is also the coach, which is a testament to his tactical prowess. Hanamiya is an expert at stealing the ball and his Teardrop Shot is excellent at overcoming tough defenses.

9 Teppei Kiyoshi Can Do A Little Bit Of Everything

Teppei Kiyoshi was known as the “Iron Heart” of the Uncrowned Kings and it’s easy to see why. While Kiyoshi is not elite at any one thing, he is a well-rounded player who can do a little bit of everything. He is Seirin High’s best defender and can facilitate the offense, rebound at a high level, and score in multiple ways.

Although he is undersized for a center, his large hands and excellent timing enable him to grab rebounds and defend as well as players much larger than him. If not for the multiple injuries he has sustained that sap him of stamina and strength, Kiyoshi could grow to the level of the Generation of Miracles.

8 Shogo Haizaki Can Steal Other Player’s Abilities

An ex-starter for Teiko Junior High before he was replaced by Kise, Shogo Haizaki is the current ace for Fukuda Sogo Academy. Haizaki is an overall strong player with above-average physical abilities. However, what truly sets him apart is his ability to steal other player’s basketball skills.

Using his Pillage ability, Haizaki can not only copy another player’s movements, by slightly changing a move’s pace and rhythm he can render his opponent unable to use their abilities. The only downside is he is not able to copy the skills of the Generation of Miracles, which limits his potential.

7 Tatsuya Himuro Is A Prodigy Just Behind The Generation Of Miracles

Tatsuya Himuro grew up with Kagami in the US and taught him how to play basketball. He is currently the shooting guard for Yosen High and the second ace for the team next to Murasakibara. While not able to enter the Zone or compete at the level of the Generation of Miracles, he is still one of the most polished players in the series.

Himuro can fake opposing players out like a professional, with even elite players like Aomine and Kagami falling for his trickery. In addition to his quick reflexes and agility, his Mirage Shot is one of the most ridiculously complex and strong abilities in the anime, as he uses a double shooting motion to confuse his opponents.

6 Shintaro Midorima Has Perfect Shooting Form

One thing the anime gets right about the sport is that shooting is the most important skill in basketball. Shutoku High’s Shintaro Midorima is the former vice-captain for the Generation of Miracles and easily the greatest shooter in Kuroko’s Basketball. With his perfect shooting form, Midorima’s ability to make every uncontested shot attempt makes him an elite basketball player.

In addition to his superhuman shooting ability, Midorima also possesses other exceptional skills. Thanks to his height and speed, he is capable of defending at a high level, such as when he blocked Kagami’s first dunk attempt during their match at the Inter-High tournament. With his ability to knock down half-court and contested shots with ease, Midorima is one of the most efficient scorers.

5 Atsushi Murasakibara Is The Most Physically Dominant Player

The most naturally gifted member of the Generation of Miracles, Atsushi Murasakibara is over 6 feet 10 inches tall and possesses incredible reflexes and speed for someone his size. He is an elite rebounder and scorer, but the element of his game that is most developed is his defense. With his stature and strength, he practically prevent opponents from reaching the basket.

The only thing that stops Murasakibara from improving is his lazy personality. When he is forced to try and give it his all he is able to enter the Zone for limited stretches of time, but he is otherwise fairly apathetic. However, despite his insistence that he will quit and does not care about basketball, the fact that he cries after losing to Seirin in the Winter Cup indicates otherwise.

4 Taiga Kagami’s Athleticism Is Unmatched

Taiga Kagami is Seirin High’s ace and the secondary protagonist of Kuroko’s Basketball. Kagami is one of the most athletically talented players in the series. Said to be the equal of the Generation of Miracles, Kagami possesses incredible reflexes, speed, and power along with above-average ball-handling skills and basketball IQ.

When Kagami enters the Zone he becomes almost unstoppable, as he relies on animal instinct to make split-second decisions. His unique jumping ability allows him to leap over even the tallest defenders to reach the basket and also allows him to effectively defend players who are taller than him. While not as technically gifted as some others, so long as he can stay healthy his athleticism and passion ensures that he can match up against any opponent.

3 Ryota Kise Has The Greatest Potential

Even though he is still relatively new to basketball, Ryota Kise is already one of the strongest players in Japan. While he is physically strong and fast, Kise’s greatest strength is his ability to copy other player’s movements. With this, he can copy any player’s abilities, from Aomine’s crossovers and fakes to Midorima’s perfect shooting form.

Unlike Haizaki, Kise’s Perfect Copy works on the Generation of Miracles, which means his ceiling is technically limitless. His only limits are his stamina and inexperience, as Perfect Copy requires a huge amount of energy. This quirky anime skill is hilariously overpowered and guarantees that Kise could certainly grow to become the strongest player in Japan.

2 Daiki Aomine Is The Most Skilled Player

The former ace of the Generation of Miracles and Kuroko’s “light,” Daiki Aomine is endowed with the greatest combination of skill and athleticism among all the players in Kuroko’s Basketball. Despite never practicing or receiving formal basketball training, Aomine is considered a monster on the court due to his speed, power, ball-handling skills, and unconventional form.

Aomine’s greatest weakness is his selfish style of play and relatively low stamina. He is an isolation-style player, but when challenged by someone worthy he is able to enter the Zone and has even shown a willingness to pass to his teammates. With practice and dedication, given his natural talent, he could become the most unstoppable player on the court.

1 Seijuro Akashi Is The Perfect Point Guard

The former captain of the Generation of Miracles and the current captain of Rakuzan High, Seijuro Akashi is the strongest basketball player in Kuroko’s Basketball. Despite his relatively small stature, he is the best player in Kuroko’s Basketball thanks to his combination of leadership skills, basketball IQ, passing ability, and ball-handling skills.

With his Emperor Eye ability, Akashi can detect his opponent’s tiniest movements which he uses to predict their moves and put them off balance. By reading his opponent’s intentions, he can orchestrate his teammates on offense or defense to make the correct play, allowing him almost complete control over the game. This ability, along with his deft passing and amazing ball-handling, allows him to score with ease and interrupt his opponent’s offense with timely steals and well-organized defensive schemes, which together make him the strongest player in Kuroko’s Basketball.

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