Author's Note: This is set in 2012 (for the sake of competition) and I decided to accelerate the age (including height and weight and skill) of all the KnB players featured and enhance them with more skill for their opponents. It will feature players not mentioned in the anime yet so beware of spoilers.
"Assemble a team," came the order from the head of Japanese basketball activities. This was a ripe opportunity for Japan, the man thought, for them to be thrust into the international stage as a country that could compete with the world's best in the growing sport of basketball. The talent pool in the Japanese professional leagues is the best it has ever been and is well suited for the situation.
Saitama Super Arena
Author's note: This is where all the games will be played. It's a legit real place that I Googled.
"Now all of you are probably wondering why you're here," came the booming voice of the former head coach of Seirin High, Riko Aida, her face more serious than ever and possessing the same haircut that she had while coaching in high school. She stared at the thirteen basketball players all seated.
"If you look around, this isn't just your run-of-the-mill reunion; you are here with a purpose; the Japanese government, in collaboration with the International Basketball Federation, FIBA as they are known, has decided for the assembly of the nation's best professional players into a 'Super Team' with the purpose of playing a couple of friendly matches against some international teams."
"Doesn't Japan already have a national team though?" perked a question from one of the players.
"That is correct. But I've been tasked with assembling the best team I can, and as an avid watcher of all the professional Japanese basketball leagues, I have chosen thirteen of you."
"Thirteen? Does that mean we have to allot and share playing time?"
"We plan to utilize each and every one of you," Riko answered.
"You gonna be the coach?"
"I will be coaching from the sideline, alongside our scout and manager, Satsuki Momoi. She is currently analyzing all the game film of our opponents."
"We are the thirteen best players you've gathered from the Japanese professional league?" someone asked.
"The thirteen best after Momoi and I have studied all the leagues in Japan. You thirteen are the best," Riko assured.
"Thirteen? I thought the roster limit was set at twelve for international competition?"
"Good observation. The truth is, due to the competition we are going to have, we are given one 'Injury Reserve'. This means that he can only play if someone is injured." Riko answered.
"Do some warmups, stretches and shoot around for a bit, then we'll start practice."
As the thirteen athletes all stood up from their seats and began doing their pre-practice routine, Riko looked at her clipboard to analyze the growth of the thirteen athletes since their days in high school. All these basketball players have matured and improved so much from their high school days.
Seijuro Akashi
Position: Point Guard
Height: 6'0 (183 cm)
Weight: 175 pounds (80 kg)
Riko looked up from her clipboard and watched as Akashi was doing layup drills under the hoop. He was going to be the leader of this team. He will coordinate and through his skill and tactical abilities they will theoretically be able to defeat any opponent.
Shintaro Midorima
Position: Shooting Guard
Height: 6'8 (203 cm)
Weight: 200 pounds (90 kg)
Riko watched as Midorima was unwrapping bandages from his hand and practicing his shooting form at the free throw line. Midorima's shooting will be crucial to the team. After all, three points is better than two.
Ryota Kise
Position: Forward
Height: 6'7 (200 cm)
Weight: 187 pounds (85 kg)
Riko watched in amazement as Kise was practicing his footwork in the paint. He was developing a post-up game. And his Copy ability, which must have helped bolster his arsenal of moves to utilize against his opponents.
Daiki Aomine
Position: Forward
Height: 6'9 (206 cm)
Weight: 210 pounds (95 kg)
Aomine was doing basketball dribbling drills. He set up cones on the court and he was dribbling around them through an array of crossovers and between the leg dribbles. Aomine was a shot creator. He's a player that can draw fouls and create a shot for himself in half court sets when the game slows down.
Atushi Murasakibara
Position: Center
Height: 7'2 (218 cm)
Weight: 255 pounds (115 kg)
Murasakibara is the focal point of the defense. He will be manning the paint and tasked with getting rebounds and contesting shots around the rim.
Riko had determined that these five would be in the starting lineup. This was based on the pretext of their previous experience of playing together. Ever since they transitioned to playing for professional teams. They have learned the fundamentals of teamwork and cooperation while harnessing their own individual skill. This does not, however, take away the growth of the other eight players selected to play for the team.
Taiga Kagami
Position: Forward
Height: 6'8 (203 cm)
Weight: 205 pounds (93 kg)
Kazunari Takao
Position: Point Guard
Height: 6'2 (188 cm)
Weight: 182 pounds (82 kg)
Reo Mibuchi
Position: Shooting Guard
Height: 6'6 (198 cm)
Weight: 191 pounds (86 kg)
Tomoki Tsugawa
Position: Shooting Guard
Height: 6'5 (195 cm)
Weight: 189 pounds (85 kg)
Tatsuya Himuro
Position: Shooting Guard
Height: 6'4 (193 cm)
Weight: 184 pounds (83 kg)
Junpei Hyuga
Position: Shooting Guard
Height: 6'3 (190 cm)
Weight: 180 pounds (81 kg)
Eikichi Nebuya
Position: Center
Height: 6'10 (208 cm)
Weight: 240 pounds (109 kg)
Riko looked at her clipboard. The final player, the Phantom, was nowhere to be seen on the practice court.
Tetsuya Kuroko
Position: Point Guard
Height: 5'11 (180 cm)
Weight: 153 pounds (69 kg)
"I think I should play the role of Injury Reserve, Coach," came a soft-spoken voice to the right of Riko. The momentary jump scare made Riko drop her clipboard.
"Kuroko, you really need to stop doing that," she breathed a sigh of relief.
"I think I should fill the role of Injury Reserve, Coach," Kuroko repeated.
"Are you sure about that? I was thinking about doing a few drills first before I made a final decision on that," Riko huffed.
"I'm quite sure, Coach, I know that everyone wants to play. This is a one-of-a-time opportunity and I want everybody to relish it. If that means that I have to sacrifice significant amounts of playing time. That's something I would be willing to do."
Riko smiled as Kuroko made his comment. This is the Kuroko that many people like. He was a great locker room presence who could quash bitter bickering between teammates and chemistry issues from the team. His passing abilities to include everyone around him makes him a fun player to play with. In terms of skill and talent, there were ample players in the Japanese League that she could've chosen over Kuroko, but it were the intangibles that Kuroko has that helped him make the team.
"Alright everyone! Gather around! This is how we are going to do this."
As Riko explained the game plan and the starting lineup, Kagami verbally, and loudly rejected the idea of him coming off the bench rather than starting.
"There's no way I'm coming off the bench!" he boldly declared.
Riko's persistence and explanation of her point of view went to no avail. It was the presence of Kuroko, who temporarily scared him because nobody knew he was there, who assuaged his concern.
"We must all make sacrifices for the sake of the team," Kuroko calmed Kagami.
It was this locker room presence that Riko so coveted from Kuroko that helped end the dilemma. Kagami's stubbornness might have led him to quit the team and not even participate in the games at all. But it was Kuroko that was the glue that held the team together. This was the Kuroko that everybody enjoyed playing with.
Scrimmage
The team played its very first game against another professional Japanese team. It was just a scrimmage, a practice game, not something to be taken too competitively.
But great players all thrown together do not click offensively and defensively immediately. Even though the Generation of Miracles had played as a squad in the past, they had trouble figuring out the team concept.
Akashi and Aomine disputed over who would be the one to initiate the offense and bring the ball up the court. Murasakibara and Kise fought amongst each other to grab rebounds and often let the ball get away because their bodies would clash. Midorima would often times decide to shoot the ball rather than pass when double teamed or under extreme pressure and attempt a difficult shot.
All this coupled with a superstar bench that was unaccustomed to being second-rate on their own squad led this team to trail by a significant points by halftime.
This was the reality check that they needed.
A squad of just the best players was not guaranteed victory. A squad of mediocre players working together can defeat a team with exponentially better talent that isn't.
But all these players have an innate desire, a burning will, struck deep within their minds. It was a basic necessity they needed, like water and air.
It was winning.
All these players wanted to win.
At this point, they became determined, like a rabid dog ready to attack its prey. They unleashed their fury, as a team, on their opponents and won by a healthy margin.
A team full of mediocre players working together can be difficult to beat; a team full of super-players working together is impossible to beat.
After winning all their exhibition games by titanic numbers, the locker room was in a joyful mood. Beating national teams of foreign countries by over 50 points and most recently, 70 points, showed utter dominance.
"We are unbeatable!" Tsugawa happily pounded his chest. His defense was extremely phenomenal and on full display on these recent games.
"Who's next on our torture chamber that is the hardwood floor?" Kise joked.
"I'll destroy their Center! Bring it!" Nebuya clapped his hands.
"All of you need to calm down," Riko entered the locker room.
"Huh, coach? Shouldn't you be excited? I mean, we are not only crushing these guys. We're annihilating them!" Kagami scoffed.
"Momoi and I have been reviewing game film. She's been studying them extensively in particular," Riko brought up.
"What's she need to study film for? We're ripping our opponent's new ones every time. Speaking of which, I haven't seen Momoi at all for any of our games. In fact, I haven't seen her since we were brought together," Aomine retorted.
"She'll be on the bench for our next game. But she's studying our next opponent at the moment. Some of them have an incredible amount of data to analyze and study," Riko answered.
"Who's our next opponent?"
"The National Team of the country that houses the best professional league and players in the world," Riko nodded.
"You don't mean…" came the stunned faces of everyone in the room. They knew whom she was referring to.
"Yes, the United States Men's National Team."
Author's Note: Hello fellow readers. Yes, I do intend to write an entire fic (spanning multiple chapters) about this super team. This chapter is more of a prologue for the game that they will soon play. And I do intend to go deep into detail into every play and utilize every player from the KnB universe on this team. Every. Single. One. Of. Them.
Anyways, any reviews or comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Hope you enjoy!