Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this work, who are the creation of Takehiko Inoue. Neither do I have any claim over his work in the manga and anime Slam Dunk. I do not earn any profit from this.

Author's Note: Next to Sendoh, this is the guy I'd probably want to date in real life—but unlike Sendoh, I'm not sure I'd marry him. (Also, more relevantly: whether he'd want to date me is another question entirely, hahahaha.) Enjoy!

Shinichi Maki

Birthday: August 15

Nickname/s: Ji (Disputed)

Affiliations: Kainan Auxiliary School

Appearance: While he's been called "old man" or "Gramps" by certain disrespectful rivals, Maki is a good-looking guy. Swarthier than the other hotties hanging around the basketball court, he has that whole "older sexy guy" vibe going for him. (Read: if you have a daddy kink, Maki could really be your best bet.) He even has the traditional "hot person" beauty mark under his left eye, so obviously his creator was referencing a very 90s kind of sex appeal: dark-haired, dark-eyed, olive-skinned stunners with built-in smolders. (The original matchmaker for the Slam Dunk crew, SD Princess, mentioned "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred in connection with Maki, and I have not been able to disassociate those two since.)

Though his skill and abilities have defined him as an incredible point guard, Maki stands at half an inch over six feet and is solidly built enough to play a center on the court, standing up to the likes of Takenori Akagi, Akira Sendoh, and Hanamichi Sakuragi. As captain of Kainan's famed basketball team, Maki didn't just survive the school's punishing training regimen: he owned and distinguished himself at it. Read: this is a guy who has that body because he really worked for it.

Think of how well-conditioned that makes him.

Do it.

Think about it.

(Yes, I'm sweating, too.)

Generally well-dressed, even on his off days, Maki really leans into the hot rich guy trope, so if that's another item on your list, ding dong, darling.

Personality, Quirks of Note: Maki has been called "Kanagawa's No. 1 Player" for most of his high school basketball career—and it's something he's completely comfortable with. He has been given the official distinction of Most Valuable Player for two years in a row and since he plays for a school that has been undefeated for 17 years, being a winner is something deeply ingrained in Maki's identity and personality. This is a guy who takes himself very seriously—and if you're going to be his partner, you should, too.

Maki is generally composed, with just a hint of self-assurance and cockiness peeking through his reserve. He has no issues with carrying responsibility and works well under pressure, accepting that only the great can be expected to bear such burdens. Like many in Kainan Auxiliary, he has learned that foundations are important and there is no getting around mastering them if one wishes to be exceptional, so his remaining in the team and becoming its captain speaks to his high regard for discipline and commitment.

That being said, Maki does not necessarily have a pure approach to basketball. His aim, always, is to win and come out on top—no matter what it takes. He famously instructed a teammate to trick an opponent into fouling out of a game, so there is a ruthlessness to Maki that should never be ignored. He will play dirty if he has to.

Perhaps because he is so used to deference, Maki has no ready response for irreverence. When Shohoku's Sakuragi accused Kainan of bringing in an alumnus (i.e. Maki) to play during the match, Maki's stone-faced reply was that Shohoku Captain Akagi looked much older than him. To his credit, Maki has never lost his cool despite repeated instances of similar disrespect (Sakuragi's friends once mistook him to be the coach of Kainan).

Finances: Kainan Auxiliary is a private school affiliated with Kainan University (hence the "Auxiliary" title) and is well-regarded as a prestigious institution. Maki strolls around in a suit and tie that turns out to be the school uniform, so there is a definite prep school vibe that speaks to the state of Maki's family finances.

Even setting that aside, again: Maki is a winner. Whatever he decides to do, he will probably claw his way to the top of and start reeling in boatloads of cash and influence. Considering his present accolades, he would definitely excel as a professional athlete. Otherwise, his presence, leadership ability, intelligence, and ruthlessness do suggest that he would be a shoe-in for a career in business or in law. (Also because those jobs put men in suits, and we already know how good Maki looks in those.)

Family: Maki is good at getting people to follow his lead and sets a good example, so it is likely that he will make a great family man. As a parent he will be strict (judging from his interactions with younger, unruly members of his team), but not so overly critical that he will cow or terrify your children. He is discerning enough to know whether praise or a scolding (or a quick rap on the head) is the best for the situation and person in question. He also handles pressure really well, so he'll likely have no real problem juggling a career and family responsibilities.

It should be borne in mind, however, that Maki has almost a fetish for excellence: the people around him have to be amazing, or working towards being amazing, in order to keep up with him. (As he said to a freshman struggling with their training: "You don't have to force yourself. There are plenty to replace you if you can't do it.") Expect him to have high expectations of you and your children and know that balancing out those expectations will fall on you.

Possible Rivals: Maki inspires intense hero-worship from many who work closely with him (i.e. Nobunaga Kiyota) and equally intense feelings of envy or hatred from those who consider themselves his rivals. While these emotions are strong enough to shift into something else, there are no standout candidates for his affections at present.

Overall Assessment: An amazing catch—if you can manage it. Maki is the perfect guy to brag about to your 1,000+ social media "friends" and the catty relatives who always wonder (to your face) why you're still single/never able to hold on to a man. Just remember: he has to be able to brag about you, too, so make some effort. As great as he is, he can't make up a power couple by himself. In other words: if you want to score a Beyoncé, you need to be a Jay-Z.

End Notes: I'm still fanning myself.