Elgin Baylor faced racial barriers for most of his life, starting with the segregated playgrounds of his Washington, D.C. childhood. But playing street ball with a makeshift hoop in his neighborhood, Baylor first developed the skill he was known for-the ability to jump so high and hang above the rim that he could easily drop the ball through the hoop. Nicknamed "Rabbit" for his jumping ability, he won a college scholarship and was then drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers. But still he faced the same barriers-not being able to stay in a segregated hotel with his white teammates and having to eat cold food in his room while the others ate in restaurants. Baylor used his fame for good by refusing to get up off the bench for a pro game until Black players were treated fairly, which quickly led to a new NBA rule that teams would not be allowed to patronize segregated businesses. Bryant gracefully intersperses her account of Baylor's life and career with other pivotal events in the Civil Rights Movement of the time, repeating the phrase "People stopped what they were doing and watched." Her repetition of this and other key phrases throughout lends the narrative a poetic sensibility, as do the elongated bodies of Frank Morrison's striking illustrations. (Ages 6-10)

Winner of the 2021 Orbis Pictus Award, Above the Rim:How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball is a picture book biography of the basketball legend from award-winning creators Jen Bryant and Frank Morrison.

“A new generation of fans will be introduced to the legendary basketball player Elgin Baylor. . . . A timely read about an NBA player who spoke out against Jim Crow injustice.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Inspirational and timely.” —School Library Journal

Before there was Michael Jordan or LeBron James or Giannis Antetokounmpo, there was Elgin Baylor, shooting, passing, and soaring through the air like no basketball player before him. Here is the story of the basketball icon and African American civil rights advocate, told with beautiful artwork and poetic text:

“In one smooth move,
like a plane taking off,
he would leap . . .
higher and higher
and higher—
as if pulled by some invisible wire,
and just when it seemed
he’d have to come down,
no!”

Hall-of-famer Baylor was one of basketball’s greatest players—an innovative athlete, team player, and quiet force for change. One of the first professional African American players, he inspired others on and off the court. But when traveling for away games, many hotels and restaurants turned Elgin away because he was Black.

One night, Elgin had enough and staged a one-man protest that captured the attention of the press, the public, and the NBA. With lyrical, moving text from an award-winning author and exquisite, slam-dunk illustrations from an award-winning artist, Above the Rim is a peek into the early days of the NBA, a poetic telling of the life of an under-recognized African American athlete, and a celebration of standing up for what’s right.