Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball

Above the Rim: How Elgin Baylor Changed Basketball
Written by: Jen Bryant
Illustrated by: Frank Morrison
Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2020. Informational.

Elgin Baylor was one of basketballs all time greatest player. The way he played was unique and so different that people would stop and watch. Elgin Baylor broke traditions and created his own unique moves and shooting style. He started his professional basketball career in 1958 but the NBA back then wasn't what it is today. In 1958 it was a lot of long bus rides and back to back nights of playing hard, playing when you were sick or injured and washing uniforms in hotel bathrooms. One night in West Virginia the Lakers needed a place to stay but every hotel said "whites only". Elgin and his team finally found a place where anyone was welcome. The next day Elgin refused to play basketball and sat on the bench in quiet protest. The fans and the NBA noticed and two weeks later things began to change for the better.

This is a excellent biography with captivating oil paintings that capture the athleticism and grace of this amazing player. The storytelling and artwork combined with interweaving threads of basketball and civil rights make this a memorable book for all ages. The story is powerful and important and is a celebration of standing up for what is right.

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