Slam (Dunk) Magazine Covers

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Well if they went pro, this is something that’s just really gonna happen. 😂

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NBA x SlamDunk: Sakuragi

Sakuragi in Spurs for a dunk. Illustration by Erik Pingol

I’m planning on creating an artbook for all these 🙂 Maybe a hundred page of illustrations is enough?

Sakuragi x San Antonio Spurs by Erik Pingol

Sakuragi x San Antonio Spurs by Erik Pingol

A lot of guys emailed me asking how can they buy my artworks. The truth is I still don’t know how. Whether to create a “store” in this site or sell the artworks somewhere—I really don’t know how those things work. If you guys have suggestions or ideas, you can email me. I just need all the help I can get. Thanks 😭

NBA X SLAM DUNK 3

The past posts, I illustrated Slam Dunk characters in NBA uniforms as how Takehiko Inoue must have imagined them. Shohoku representing Bulls, Kainan for Lakers, Sannoh for Magic. Here, I’m back with my own fictional universe of NBA X Slam Dunk, as my original post.

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NBA X SLAM DUNK 2

The first set I did was my personal fiction. What would happen if the Slam Dunk characters went pro—or more specifically were drafted in the NBA? What team would best suit them? That was my take.

This time, me, my friends and some great guys who supported the first run of the NBA X SLAM DUNK, collaborated in thoughts about how the great Takehiko Inoue—Slam Dunk author—imagined the creation of the players and teams and what they really represented.

These came up:

Our great idol Takehiko Inoue must have imagined Shohoku as Bulls, Kainan as Lakers, Sannoh as Magic… well, we’ll never know until he told us personally. Illustrations by Erik Pingol

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Maki, Sakuragi, Sawakita and Rukawa in alternate NBA jerseys. Illustrations by Erik Pingol

Guys, I regularly upload artworks like these and mostly they premiere on Instagram. Please check out and follow my Instagram, it’s a lot of fun! See you there.

NBA X Slam Dunk

What if Slam Dunk (anime) ballers got drafted in NBA? What teams suit them best? I certainly can’t say which one is the best team for each player but I could give my own fantasy draft, for sure.

In my Instagram account some say Sakuragi should go to the Bulls, Fujima to the Celtics, etc. Yes, of course, Shohoku guys would fit nicely in the Bulls uniform, Shoyo guys should bleed green with the Celtics jersey and Kainan to the gold and purple Lakers—but we have (almost) already seen that. Those NBA teams were clearly the inspiration of author Takehiko Inoue in designing the school varsity uniforms. So I wanted something fresh. Something new to my eye.

I hope I could make my favorite mangaka Mr. Takehiko Inoue proud. Or at least, not disappointed.

Also, you guys can comment down below which team you want the characters to play. Who knows, if I get the extra time, I could do those too. Your (likes and) share would be much appreciated.

I figured Sakuragi would be fantastic under Coach Popovich’s guidance

Miyagi is like my Penny Hardaway’s resurrection

Rukawa could do well in the Madison Square Garden

Mitsui is one of my top guys in the series. So he goes to the Lakers, no question 😂

Houston would love Akagi’s dominance in the paint

Rukawa goes to New York, Sendoh goes to Indiana. Interesting!

I don’t know. I just think this uniform fits “Fukusuke” well

Fujima goes to training under Steve Nash, and dons the Mavs jersey

Miami wanted a “tall” guy with range, Hanagata was just at the right time. Had to improve his eye glasses though, into something more sporty but won’t change his looks.

Two things: I wanted to represent Canada in this collection and I just love that classic Raptors jersey. Just tossed Kiyota in the mix 😂

Maki goes to the Cavs. I was actually surprised the wine and gold looked great on him. So I let him have a pair of LeBrons.

Unfortunately, even in fantasy I didn’t think Kogure could make it in the NBA. Sorry, Megane-kun fans. Okay, I’m not serious. This is just my little joke. How about Kogure discovered his real greatness was in baseball all along? And he made it in the Major League with the Dodgers! Not bad, Megane-kun, not bad.

Kogure with the Dodgers! FTW!

Also, Coach Popovich thought Sakuragi’s red hair gives away his stealth defense/blocks from behind. He suggested a more toned down color. Well really, the Spurs owner thought it violates the SAS colors, so here we go.

Sakuragi in his alternate hair color

Guys, I had a lot of fun doing this. I hope you do, too. Please, do message me what NBA teams would you like to see them in. It would be a nice discussion. Also please share (and like) if it’s not much. My Instagram is erikpingol and my Facebook page is Art of Erik Pingol. See you around.