NBA Players Who Love Anime
While many people associate NBA players as big, burly men and one’s stereotyped as high school jocks, nothing could be further from the truth. NBA players come from many diverse and rich backgrounds and often find entertainment from many different sources.
And, while surprising to many, a growing number of NBA players enjoy watching and reading anime content. Anime, being the traditional Japanese animation, does not only have a growing influence and popularity among American youth and adults but also many NBA players.
But just who are the NBA players who love anime?
Below, we are going to review the top NBA players who watch and read anime and the one’s who have spoken out about their love of anime.
What is Anime?
Before jumping in and discussing which NBA players love anime, it’s important to take a step back and understand just what anime is and what anime is not. Admittedly, anime has many subgroups and can be easily confused, particularly for people and individuals who do not watch or read anime.
Anime, quite simply, refers to a specific style of cartoon that is either produced or inspired by Japanese animation. Essentially, all anime and all anime content is produced in a cartoon format but not all cartoons fall into the anime category.
And within the anime style, there are many distinct and unique styles which help to not only differentiate the genre from traditional cartoons but also identify the show or book as falling within the anime genre.
In particular, anime typically features over-exaggerated designs such as large eyes, wild hair, and long limbs and arms.
In addition, anime utilizes a number of technical animation tricks and techniques to provide a more emotional feel. These technical animation tricks include the use of dramatic closeups and zooms, intense lighting, and the use of brilliant colors.
Why is Anime so Popular?
While anime has long been popular in Japan and in Japanese culture, its recent explosion in popularity in America has surprised many. However, anime and anime-like content has been popular in America since the 1960’s with the show Speed Racer.
In addition, with the popularity of shows such as Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z in the 1990’s, an additional generation of American youth became hooked on the genre.
But just why is anime so popular?
Although anime is more akin to a cartoon-like style, it features a diverse and rich set of stories. From romance to comedy to action to mystery and suspense, anime offers viewers a wide-range of differing stories.
In addition, anime has grown in popularity with streaming services such as Netflix, HBO Max, and NBC’s Peacock offering anime content. With more viewers watching and engaging with the content, anime has been able to reach a broader American populace.
And lastly, anime features a number of relatable characters and topics. From real world events to more difficult topics and events, anime offers viewers relatable content and content that can be easily identified with.
Are There Basketball Specific Anime’s?
With the ever-growing content library of anime, there have been a number of anime’s which focus on the sport of basketball. Below, we are going to review and discuss the top three best basketball anime’s.
- Slam Dunk – perhaps the most widely recognized basketball anime and the one which all other basketball specific anime’s are judged against, Slam Dunk follows Hanamichi Sakuragi, a high school student who hates basketball. But when he begins to have feelings for Haruko Akagi, an ardent basketball fan, he decides to join the high school team and actually begins to like the game.
- Kuroko’s Basketball – Kuroko’s Basketball follows Tetsuya Kuroko, a rather unremarkable player. But that plainness is exactly what gives him an edge on the court, allowing him to execute awesome basketball moves and plays, all in a moment’s notice.
- Ahiru No Sora – Whereas Slam Dunk was about a player trying to join and learn the game of basketball, Ahiru No Sora is quite the opposite. Following Sora Kurumatani as he attempts to get his teammates to take the game seriously, it’s a great basketball anime and tons of fun to watch with even a few laughs.
Basketball and NBA Players Who Love Anime
With its rich, diverse, and colorful history, it’s no wonder that so many NBA and professional basketball players love anime and enjoy watching the cartoons and reading the series.
Below is the definitive list of all the NBA players who like and enjoy anime!
- Joel Embiid – the Cameroonian basketball player and Philadelphia 76ers superstar may be better known for his insane scoring averages and full-beard, but Embiid is one of the most ardent anime fans in the league. Seen watching anime on his phone while getting worked on by a trainer, Embiid is a huge anime fan.
- Steven Adams – the Memphis Grizzlies big man and 12th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft admitted to having skipped the Warriors’ first game with Kevin Durant in favor of watching some anime. We would say that’s some dedicated love for anime!
- Johnny O’Bryant – a former NBA player and a current player for the Korean Basketball league, Johnny O’Bryant started his own anime production, titled XOGENASYS. Long a fan of anime, Johnny O’Bryant used much of his own funds to begin the anime and remains a devoted fan of the genre.
- Thomas Bryant – perhaps the biggest anime fan and lover in the NBA, Thomas Bryant is unabashed about his love of anime. Bryant claims to know anime inside and out, telling NBC Sports:
“Don’t even try me on DBZ. I know everything about that. I know everything from Dragonball Z to Dragonball GT to Dragonball Super; all of them. We can go to a whole different level with that”
He continues by stating:
“[But] that’s the easiest one to know….everybody say they’re fans, but they’re not real fans. They don’t really know. Naruto [Uzumaki], One Piece, Lelouch; all of them in there. Naruto to Sasuke. People don’t even know these…nobody knows the real background of everything.”
And Bryant’s love for anime goes back to his childhood. As a kid, he would stay up late to watch anime and loved Toonami on Cartoon Network. And in addition to collecting the action figures, he also dabbled in drawing characters he loved.
- Isaac Bonga – teammate to Thomas Bryant, Isaac Bonga has also an affinity for anime. Born in Neuwied, Bonga was drafted to the NBA in the 2018 NBA draft and has a love for anime, in particular for Dragon Ball Z.