Rukawa Kaede ; cool, quiet, reserved, serious, studious natured, untalkative, all around a good basketball player...

Sakuragi Hanamichi ; hot-headed, red haired, arrogant, freshman, naughty, cheerful, a talented sportman

Their first meet is on the Shohoku rooftop after Rukawa's fighting with some 3rd year bad boys, and the two have shown a dislike for one another. Perhaps Rukawa regards Hanamichi as a friend since the first encounter. More over they bicker like good friends and often scruffle like two kids. Hanamichi's progress makes Rukawa look in surprise.

What is more unforgivable for Sakuragi is Rukawa' s indifferences to Akagi Haruko who Sakuragi likes at the beginning. This makes Hanamichi brand Rukawa as a foe. Later this enmity spreads to Basketball, and the two often get into fights.

Rukawa was already a star Basketball player when he graduated from middle school. As the ranking points highlights, he is a prolific point scorer and also has a good overall game both in attack and defense. When things start going bad, he always try to change the flow of the game by himself, which usually works. He is a can not abandoned ace player of the team…

And Sakruagi Hanamichi only started to play basketball since the start of 1st year of senior high, he becomes very important member of the team because of his ability to change the momentum of the game with his athleticism, blocks, defense, steals, and of course tremendous rebounding skills. He has a special gift in jumping, getting rebounds and running. He is so hyperactive and never seems to tire! A direct contrast to Rukawa is our very own Hanamichi who does not posses great skills and is often viewed by his teammates as a pompous twit.

Rukawa only shows emotions to Sakuragi. Their relation first began as enemies because Sakuragi wanted to beat him down. Then they were rivals as teammates. I think Rukawa was aware of Sakuragi's ability and he didn't want to loose his place to him. And Rukawa was his first aim to beat. Then trust... As to me they had trust for each other in the following parts. They knew each other's capacity well and in the games they believed their victory.