Basketball went from a game of set shots and long jumpers to a game played above the rim, characterized by earth-shattering dunks.

The same male-centric phenomenon takes place in basketball, where the “standard” version of the game is played above the rim while the “watered-down” female version is played below the rim (and with a smaller ball).

Whereas Erving made his impact above the rim Curry is expanding what we never thought was expandable - the jump shot.

I believe in playing above the rim on the court, and in my career.

Who can tell the fabric of state government stories better? Who can tell those fabric stories first? And who can do what I call playing above the rim, which is you're in such close contact with legislators and state officials that you can stay ahead of the news.

2021 February 16, Shawn Jefferson, quoted in Darren Urban, "Shawn Jefferson's Padded Resumé For Coaching Receivers" azcardinals.com
Jefferson, who once coached new Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson in Detroit, said DeAndre Hopkins is "probably the only one in the league I can compare to Calvin right now, has the skillset Calvin had, playing above the rim and in those competitive situations coming down with the ball."

Above the rim

Meaning

Prep_phrase