Kuroko No Basket: 10 Characters That Are Like Real-Life NBA Players

Kuroko no Basket has garnered a global fanbase for its electrifying description of high school basketball, as well as the many ways it seems to draw inspiration from the stars of the hardwood. Basketball is not just a sport, it's a way of life and a source of inspiration to many who hope to call the NBA home someday.

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Tadatoshi Fujimaki, the creator of Kuroko no Basket, is a fan of the sport and has consciously and subconsciously drawn parallels between several of his characters, especially The Generation Of Miracles, and real-life NBA players, whether past or present, and this is quite evident in their playstyle and sometimes their character and approach to the game, and here are some of these characters and their NBA doppelgangers.

10 Kazunari Takao

Similar to Chris Paul

• Both possess great playmaking skills.

Shutoku’s point guard Kazunari Takao is Kuroko’s natural enemy due to his insane court vision which is dubbed Hawk Eye. His playmaking and ability to sniff out Kuroko and guard him despite his awfully low presence is reminiscent of Chris Paul.

He also enjoys playing the game and does not put a lot of focus on winning or demoralizing opponents unless he faces Kuroko. His defense is also slept on, once stealing Akashi’s pass to Reo Mibuchi by using Hawk Eye to detect the pass it despite it being behind his back.

9 Hanamiya Makoto

Similar to Draymond Green

• Both players are defensive strategists.

Hanamiya might be a point guard, but there is no other comparison more fitting than the power forward of the Golden State Warriors, Draymond Green, who is infamous for his unforgiving, negligent, and sometimes outright dirty playstyle.

Hanamiya resorted to harming Kiyoshi Teppei’s bad knee in their match against Seirin, as opposed to competing in a clean game of basketball. He derives joy in hurting opponents and getting in their heads, with his primary role as a defender specializing in steals and lockdown plays, much like Draymond.

8 Kiyoshi Teppei

Similar to Tim Duncan

• Both players are masters of the paint.

Tim Duncan, the big fundamental, is one of the most inspirational and humble superstars in recent years. The fact that Kiyoshi Teppei was willing to step down as Seirin’s ace and allow Kuroko and Kagami to lead the team to success is reminiscent of the 2014 San Antonio Spurs team that won a championship with the young Kawhi Leonard earning the Bill Russell’s Finals MVP Award.

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Tim and Kiyoshi both anchor their team with their rebounding, shot blocking, and ability to make smart plays without scoring a lot.

7 Akashi Seijuurou

Similar to Stephen Curry

• Both players possess elite ball handling and leadership skills.

Akashi and Stephen Curry are both point guards with exceptional ball-handling skills and leadership quality. While Stephen is the greatest shooter of all time, Akashi is a more fitting comparison for him due to his ability to take over games on his own through his scoring and shot creation or involving teammates through their immaculate playmaking.

Akashi’s second personality that comes with the Emperor Eye is also in sync with Stephen Curry’s hidden competitive and petty side that shows in the really big moments, like the 2022 NBA Finals.

6 Midorima Shintaro

Similar to Ray Allen

• Both players possess unrivaled shooting skills.

Stephen Curry would seem tso be the most obvious NBA Player like Midorima, due to their unparalleled shooting, but the height and shot creation difference between the pair introduces another possibility into the mix, Ray Allen.

Midorima and Ray are both shooting guards with near limitless range and accuracy. They specialize in three-point shots and prefer it to driving towards the rim with aggression.

5 Murasakibara Atsushi

Similar to Shaquille O’Neal

• Both players are incredibly dominant centers.

Shaquille O’Neal and Murasakibara are both powered by a diesel engine, being absolute freaks of nature with their immense size and strength. They are great defensive anchors who can block almost any type of shot near the rim and are unstoppable in the paint when they get going with their dunks and post moves.

Murasakibara and Shaquille also seem to share their nonchalance about the sport, with Murasakibara only getting worked up when he is pushed to the wall. He once scored 100 points in a game like Wilt, but shares more similarities in build and personality to The Diesel.

4 Kise Ryota

Similar to Kobe Bryant

• Both players are remarkable scorers.

Kise and Kobe share a lot of similarities, but one of the major ones is their drive to win and be the best, as evidenced by Kise’s emotional outbreak following his loss to Aomine. Kise is also a great scorer with a wide range of versatile moves due to his ability to copy skills.

He is great in the midrange, very competitive, and loves taking shots, but will not hesitate to pass up the ball when his teammate is in a better position. When he gets worked up, Kise can be the best player on the court, although his relatively low stamina won’t let him do that for long.

3 Aomine Daiki

Similar to Michael Jordan

• Both players are unstoppable, multi-skilled scorers.

Aomine Daiki is the definition of winning mentality and individuality. He snd Michael are both shooting guards with unstoppable, unorthodox offensive moves, and killer instincts. They possess incredible scoring acumen, and prefer to rely on one-on-one skills and fadeaway or circus shots to dismantle opponents.

Despite their ability to create shots from impossible scenarios, they also have great verticals and jump power, enabling them to get to the rim and dunk the ball with ease. They are also confident and arrogant, sometimes to the point of being disrespectful.

2 Taiga Kagami

Similar to Giannis Antetokoumpo

• Both players have a strength-driven playstyle.

Kagami possesses plenty of similarities with Giannis Antentokoumpo, both being extremely physically gifted power forwards who take every opportunity to run at the rim. Despite being only 6 foot 3 inches, his incredible jumping power and strength makes him a threat in and around the paint.

Like Giannis needed Jrue Holiday to bring out his true potential and finally deliver a championship, Kagami also needed Kuroko’s incredible passing ability to take him to greater heights. Like Giannis, Kagami also shouldered the responsibility of leading a failed sporting operation to glory as the number one option.

1 Tetsuya Kuroko

Similar to Rajon Rondo

• Both players possess exceptional basketball IQ.

Kuroko’s basketball IQ, underrated defense and great passing ability is similar to the Boston Celtics’ Rajon Rondo. Their inability to shoot the ball from outside the paint before evolving later in their career is also a similarity they share.

The nimbleness and ability to slip around the court often undetected, they demonstrate off the ball and on defense is a main staple they possess, stripping players of the ball before they even realize it. Kuroko, like Rajon, works best as a supporting player, whose specialty is to bring out the best plays from their aces or number one options.

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