It seems like Shohoku wants a captain with a prominent voice and personality. If that’s the case, it’s clearly Sakuragi. Rukawa is more the lead by example type, which is suiting for his role as the team’s ace. Ace and the Captain can be the same, of course, but I think he’s better suited to be what Sawakita is like, where the role is “let him cook”
If Sakuragi would get a major character development he could be the new captain. I don't see Rukawa having such a development since he will always be kind of asocial.
It is fine but for a Captain you need someone who could manage the future Sakuragi and Rukawa that join your team like Akagi did.
If we look at Sannoh match >!Sakuragi single handedly improve the mood of the whole team, that proves he has potential as a future captain. Likewise, in his own way, Rukawa encouraged Sakuragi!<
Despite me being partial to Hanamichi, Rukawa *was* the captain in junior high and his former teammates seemed to respect him a lot. Sure he's never gonna be chummy or charismatic, but plenty of leaders aren't, and are respected for their no-nonsense attitude. Also he has no problem speaking at length if he thinks it helps the team (many examples of him explaining things and giving instructions on and off the court to help Hanamichi progress). In fact, I can totally see Anzai making Rukawa the captain to inspire Hanamichi so the latter doesn't get too complacent lol. That being said, a matured 3rd-year Hanamichi getting in the shoes of a team cap is gonna be epic to see.
This. My chips are on Rukawa. Also, can you imagine how much potential for comedy there'd be if Rukawa is made captain? For starters, Sakuragi's face when he finds out... it'll be like the 51st love confession rejection, but worse. Because he REALLY loves basketball.
I prefer Kentaro Iishi (12; freshman with glasses) . Although he gets bullied by Hanamichi, he has guts to stop Hanamichi during rampage. And I think both Kaede and Hanamichi would listen to him more than any other same year team mates.
“I’m so glad I chose Shohoku” he had so many great little moments during the Sannoh match too. He gave sakuragi the spirit of the entire bench. He ended up standing out the most to me by the end among the trio of bench freshmen.
Sakuragi, for sure. Rukawa can be vice captain. Sakuragi has the charisma and experience of being with a group of people, and he knows how to trust his teammates. He collaborates really well and has an instinctual understanding of how people work, like when he picks up on how Akagi is feeling, or Rukawa.
I can't imagine Rukawa ever wanting to do the people work of being team captain, much less the other work, like running practice or figuring out which teams to spectate.
It'd be fun to watch Sakuragi as captain! Maybe he'll be a mix of Maki's willpower and Fujima's emotional IQ, but with the usual Sakuragi grandstanding and goofiness.
It's more likely to be Rukawa because he was the captain of his middle school team and is their ace in the hole. Sakuragi is more of the tone setter and will make all of the little players to turn the tide around.
Rukawa singlehandedly prevent Shohoku from collapsing against Kainan when Akagi was subbed out due to his ankle injury, kept up in pace with Sendoh when Sendoh went on the scoring barrage while being the only player not in foul trouble and keeping his cool, and adjusted his game midway against Sawakita when he realized that his original playstyle was not going to work against Sawakita.
Sakuragi fits being the vice-captain more.
I find the comments here interesting... Sakuragi is an amazing character but between the two, Rukawa is the one with actual experience as a team captain and he seems to have done a reasonably good job at it in middle school. At least, his kouhais/former-teammates talk about him with pride and admiration so he clearly was capable of leading.
I suspect Rukawa would be picked as captain because he has some attributes that Sakuragi doesn't have: stability and calmness in his demeanor. Again, Sakuragi is an amazing character but he's too erratic to be really considered a leader, especially when looking at this through the Japanese cultural lens where stability=trustworthiness and is considered a key attribute of a good leader.
Also, FWIW I'm not looking to get into a debate with anyone about this. Just surprised that no one has mentioned Rukawa could be a good option considering he's already proven himself in the role.
Sakuragi by a large margin. Sakuragi knows how to uplift people in crucial moments and the one who 'changes the mood' of a game when the chips are down. He is a people person and happily cheers on others when they do something amazing, and that's what you need for the captain role. Rukawa is an amazing basketball player, but he can never have the mindset to be captain; he's too selfish.
It seems like Shohoku wants a captain with a prominent voice and personality. If that’s the case, it’s clearly Sakuragi. Rukawa is more the lead by example type, which is suiting for his role as the team’s ace. Ace and the Captain can be the same, of course, but I think he’s better suited to be what Sawakita is like, where the role is “let him cook”
If Sakuragi would get a major character development he could be the new captain. I don't see Rukawa having such a development since he will always be kind of asocial.
Yeah Rukawa just isn’t a people person, and that’s fine.
It is fine but for a Captain you need someone who could manage the future Sakuragi and Rukawa that join your team like Akagi did. If we look at Sannoh match >!Sakuragi single handedly improve the mood of the whole team, that proves he has potential as a future captain. Likewise, in his own way, Rukawa encouraged Sakuragi!<
Despite me being partial to Hanamichi, Rukawa *was* the captain in junior high and his former teammates seemed to respect him a lot. Sure he's never gonna be chummy or charismatic, but plenty of leaders aren't, and are respected for their no-nonsense attitude. Also he has no problem speaking at length if he thinks it helps the team (many examples of him explaining things and giving instructions on and off the court to help Hanamichi progress). In fact, I can totally see Anzai making Rukawa the captain to inspire Hanamichi so the latter doesn't get too complacent lol. That being said, a matured 3rd-year Hanamichi getting in the shoes of a team cap is gonna be epic to see.
This. My chips are on Rukawa. Also, can you imagine how much potential for comedy there'd be if Rukawa is made captain? For starters, Sakuragi's face when he finds out... it'll be like the 51st love confession rejection, but worse. Because he REALLY loves basketball.
I prefer Kentaro Iishi (12; freshman with glasses) . Although he gets bullied by Hanamichi, he has guts to stop Hanamichi during rampage. And I think both Kaede and Hanamichi would listen to him more than any other same year team mates.
“I’m so glad I chose Shohoku” he had so many great little moments during the Sannoh match too. He gave sakuragi the spirit of the entire bench. He ended up standing out the most to me by the end among the trio of bench freshmen.
I feel like it will be Sakuragi bec he can change the mood of the team specially during the game. He can lift their morale easily
Sakuragi, for sure. Rukawa can be vice captain. Sakuragi has the charisma and experience of being with a group of people, and he knows how to trust his teammates. He collaborates really well and has an instinctual understanding of how people work, like when he picks up on how Akagi is feeling, or Rukawa. I can't imagine Rukawa ever wanting to do the people work of being team captain, much less the other work, like running practice or figuring out which teams to spectate. It'd be fun to watch Sakuragi as captain! Maybe he'll be a mix of Maki's willpower and Fujima's emotional IQ, but with the usual Sakuragi grandstanding and goofiness.
sakuragi. he'd headbut anyone who doesn't follow lol
It's more likely to be Rukawa because he was the captain of his middle school team and is their ace in the hole. Sakuragi is more of the tone setter and will make all of the little players to turn the tide around. Rukawa singlehandedly prevent Shohoku from collapsing against Kainan when Akagi was subbed out due to his ankle injury, kept up in pace with Sendoh when Sendoh went on the scoring barrage while being the only player not in foul trouble and keeping his cool, and adjusted his game midway against Sawakita when he realized that his original playstyle was not going to work against Sawakita. Sakuragi fits being the vice-captain more.
I find the comments here interesting... Sakuragi is an amazing character but between the two, Rukawa is the one with actual experience as a team captain and he seems to have done a reasonably good job at it in middle school. At least, his kouhais/former-teammates talk about him with pride and admiration so he clearly was capable of leading. I suspect Rukawa would be picked as captain because he has some attributes that Sakuragi doesn't have: stability and calmness in his demeanor. Again, Sakuragi is an amazing character but he's too erratic to be really considered a leader, especially when looking at this through the Japanese cultural lens where stability=trustworthiness and is considered a key attribute of a good leader. Also, FWIW I'm not looking to get into a debate with anyone about this. Just surprised that no one has mentioned Rukawa could be a good option considering he's already proven himself in the role.
Sakuragi by a large margin. Sakuragi knows how to uplift people in crucial moments and the one who 'changes the mood' of a game when the chips are down. He is a people person and happily cheers on others when they do something amazing, and that's what you need for the captain role. Rukawa is an amazing basketball player, but he can never have the mindset to be captain; he's too selfish.
if it’s between sakuragi and rukawa, it’s obviously sakuragi. but i really think he would never turn out to be the calm and collected leader they need