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I Came As a Shadow: An Autobiography
The long-awaited autobiography from Georgetown University's legendary coach, whose life on and off the basketball court threw America's unresolved struggle with racial justice into sharp relief.
John Thompson was never just a basketball coach and I Came As A Shadow is categorically not just a basketball autobiography.
After three decades at the center of race and sports in America, the first Black head coach to win an NCAA championship makes the private public at last. Chockful of stories and moving beyond mere stats (and what stats! three Final Fours, four times national coach of the year, seven Big East championships, 97 percent graduation rate), Thompson's book drives us through his childhood under Jim Crow segregation to our current moment of racial reckoning. We experience riding shotgun with Celtics icon Red Auerbach, and coaching NBA Hall of Famers like Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson. How did he inspire the phrase "Hoya Paranoia"? You'll see. And thawing his historically glacial stare, Thompson brings us into his negotiation with a DC drug kingpin in his players' orbit in the 1980s, as well as behind the scenes of his years on the Nike board.
Thompson's mother was a teacher who couldn't teach because she was Black. His father could not read or write, so the only way he could identify different cements at the factory where he worked was to taste them. Their son grew up to be a man with his own life-sized statue in a building that bears his family's name on a campus once kept afloat by the selling of 272 enslaved people. This is a great American story, and John Thompson's experience sheds light on many of the issues roiling our nation. In these pages--a last gift from "Coach"--he proves himself to be the elder statesman whose final words college basketball and the country need to hear.
I Came As A Shadow is not a swan song, but a bullhorn blast from one of America's most prominent sons. Huddle up.
John Thompson was never just a basketball coach and I Came As A Shadow is categorically not just a basketball autobiography.
After three decades at the center of race and sports in America, the first Black head coach to win an NCAA championship makes the private public at last. Chockful of stories and moving beyond mere stats (and what stats! three Final Fours, four times national coach of the year, seven Big East championships, 97 percent graduation rate), Thompson's book drives us through his childhood under Jim Crow segregation to our current moment of racial reckoning. We experience riding shotgun with Celtics icon Red Auerbach, and coaching NBA Hall of Famers like Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson. How did he inspire the phrase "Hoya Paranoia"? You'll see. And thawing his historically glacial stare, Thompson brings us into his negotiation with a DC drug kingpin in his players' orbit in the 1980s, as well as behind the scenes of his years on the Nike board.
Thompson's mother was a teacher who couldn't teach because she was Black. His father could not read or write, so the only way he could identify different cements at the factory where he worked was to taste them. Their son grew up to be a man with his own life-sized statue in a building that bears his family's name on a campus once kept afloat by the selling of 272 enslaved people. This is a great American story, and John Thompson's experience sheds light on many of the issues roiling our nation. In these pages--a last gift from "Coach"--he proves himself to be the elder statesman whose final words college basketball and the country need to hear.
I Came As A Shadow is not a swan song, but a bullhorn blast from one of America's most prominent sons. Huddle up.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published December 15, 2020
245 people are currently reading
2631 people want to read
About the author
John Thompson
1 book1 followerJohn Robert Thompson Jr. (September 2, 1941 – August 30, 2020) was an American college basketball coach for the Georgetown Hoyas men's team. He became the first African-American head coach to win a major collegiate championship in basketball when he led the Hoyas to the NCAA Division I national championship in 1984. Thompson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
January 16, 2022
**Interview with Jesse Washington co-author of I Came As a Shadow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5c_cI...***
March 4, 2021
When I was 11, 12, or 13 I got to be one of the rich white boys who had the opportunity to be smoked by the best basketball prospects in the country at John Thompson’s Basketball Camp at Georgetown University. (My mother had worked in an office at Georgetown before I was born and still had friends there ... I had connections).
Upon registration each attendee got to meet Thompson and have a moment to chat one-on-one. I shook his hand. He shook my arm.
At the opening lecture he asked for everyone who brought a book to raise their hand. I raised mine, along with several other guys. Then he asked who brought a Game Gear. Many more hands went up. “You’re all jackasses”, he said.
In “I Came as a Shadow”, the title a reference to a poem written by his uncle, Thompson discusses how much he loves to cuss and uses the language freely.
This isn’t so much a book about basketball as it is about pedagogy and race in America and the confluence of the two. Thompson was keen to the equity versus equality argument back in 70s and used “we may have the same goal but some get to start on the 50 yard line” throughout the book.
He also tells some good stories about the superstars who had played for him. And we learn that he is an avid fan of country music.
“I Came as a Shadow” may not be a great piece of literature but it is a great story about a great man who lived a great life.
By the way, I didn’t crack open the book I brought a single time. It was during our free time, which I had intent to use for reading, that I first learned about the Notorious B.I.G.
Upon registration each attendee got to meet Thompson and have a moment to chat one-on-one. I shook his hand. He shook my arm.
At the opening lecture he asked for everyone who brought a book to raise their hand. I raised mine, along with several other guys. Then he asked who brought a Game Gear. Many more hands went up. “You’re all jackasses”, he said.
In “I Came as a Shadow”, the title a reference to a poem written by his uncle, Thompson discusses how much he loves to cuss and uses the language freely.
This isn’t so much a book about basketball as it is about pedagogy and race in America and the confluence of the two. Thompson was keen to the equity versus equality argument back in 70s and used “we may have the same goal but some get to start on the 50 yard line” throughout the book.
He also tells some good stories about the superstars who had played for him. And we learn that he is an avid fan of country music.
“I Came as a Shadow” may not be a great piece of literature but it is a great story about a great man who lived a great life.
By the way, I didn’t crack open the book I brought a single time. It was during our free time, which I had intent to use for reading, that I first learned about the Notorious B.I.G.
January 26, 2021
So beautiful, inspirational and raw. Cry a few times 😭
October 24, 2025
picked this up on a whim and now it’s one of my favourite books!!
December 21, 2020
This is a fascinating and introspective look into the life of legendary coach, John Thompson. There is some of what you'd expect - basketball tales from his career a player and coach, but so much more. It is a slice of Washington, DC history, social commentary, an insider's view of inter-collegiate sports, and most interesting, a family story. I finished it in a day and a half.
March 3, 2021
Lot of good memories and I'm pleased John Thompson opened up enough to share them. I was a big Georgetown fan back in the day, and this book helped me smile on my walk down memory lane. Thompson takes us deep into his mind and the shaping of his life philosophy, which he continually reminds the reader was more teaching than coaching. He really saw the basketball court as his classroom. He was adamant about being known as an intellectual, one who uses his mind, as opposed to just being a good Coach.
He states to his co-author, "I don't want this to be a book about basketball" and in the strictest sense it isn't. But there is a whole lot of basketball in these pages and that's a very good thing. If you want to know the mind of John Thompson all gray matter is here for the examining. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
He states to his co-author, "I don't want this to be a book about basketball" and in the strictest sense it isn't. But there is a whole lot of basketball in these pages and that's a very good thing. If you want to know the mind of John Thompson all gray matter is here for the examining. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
May 2, 2021
Absolutely loved this book. The mark of a good memoir is candor, and Thompson wears everything on his sleeve. Sharp, thoughtful, funny, and fascinating even for readers (me) who know nothing about basketball. Would especially recommend it to Georgetown students, both for Thompson’s assessments of the school and its evolution, and for its insights into the intersection of college athletics and race/class, a discussion that’s often overlooked on the Hilltop. Bonus: The audiobook, read by co-author Jesse Washington, was well-produced + a great listening experience.
March 25, 2023
Due to the fact that I know nothing about basketball, basically, it took me a while to get through this book and parts of it were a complete mystery I must admit. Nevertheless, it was totally worth it, because of Thompson’s frank, clear-eyed, and courageous exposition of his views on racial inequities at all levels of society and at every juncture of his life.
February 8, 2021
I can pinpoint the exact reason I rooted for the other teams of my childhood, but as I was reading this book, for the life of me, I have no idea why I started rooting for Georgetown. Was it because there were 2 women on the bench? Was it because of the Big Man with the towel over his shoulder didn't look like anyone else who had the same job? Was it the story behind Ralph Dalton (who was one of my favorites)? Or was it because Georgetown was playing against a team my father liked, so I was inclined to instinctively against them/him? Whatever the reason, after reading this book, I know my admiration of Coach Thompson was completely well placed, even if I was only 12. The lives he touched, including mine, were made better with Coach Thompson in this world. He will truly be missed.
February 27, 2022
A compelling and moving book that is more about teaching, leadership, and identity than it is about basketball, although hoop junkies like me will also find a lot to enjoy. JT was the legendary coach who put Georgetown University basketball on the map as a black powerhouse and a symbol of black identity. Of course, the nature of the memoir genre is that the memoirist has tremendous power of self-portrayal, and I don't know a ton about JT beyond this book. Still, I found myself largely admiring this man as a coach and a person, and as a historian I found his commentary on sports, race, and politics fascinating.
The early section of this book does a great job showing the pervasive, unquestioned nature of the racial hierarchy in JT's world growing up. He lived "across the park" from the white neighborhood and interacted with almost no white people. Few people in his neighborhood thought much about careers beyond what black people were already doing or allowed to do. His white teachers at the local Catholic school literally labelled him as "retarded" when he actually had a learning disability, and their expectations for him and other black kids were incredibly low. This is a great illustration of the importance of representation, as JT only began to think of certain careers and identities as possible once he saw them in the basketball and academic worlds. If not for certain teachers and coaches who took him seriously and helped raise his eyes to higher goals, he might have been just another guy. Of course, being 6 foot 10 helped!
JT gives a fascinating account of his career at Providence and with the Celtics, where he developed his personality and sense of racial identity. He talks about the black quota system, a reverse affirmative action unwritten rule in the NBA in which teams didn't want too many black players for fear of alienating their mostly white fan bases. This is a good example of white people benefitting from racism. JT, as coach at Georgetown, unapologetically had all black teams. He talks about different sorts of "nice white people," some of which truly treated him as equal, others who could only relate to black people as teachers/instructors in a hierarchical way. He highly praises Red Auerbach for teaching him about life and coaching while also being pretty progressive on race. Red's best advice was to watch players (and people and general) when they don't have the ball; do they move around, communicate, set screens, get in the right position, box out, etc, even when most of these actions don't boost stats and aren't watched by coaches and fans? You can see the obvious link to real life here.
JT is an interesting mix of progressive and old-school. As a coach, he could be pretty brutal: he fostered tough-nosed, disciplined teams, he didn't accept half-assing in the classroom, and he cut loose guys who were disruptive or who didn't take school seriously. On race, he was what they used to call a "race-man:" someone who strongly identified as black, read deeply into black intellectual and political traditions, and saw his role as changing institutions and norms from within in order to challenge white people's assumptions and create more pride and opportunity for black people. He and his players faced significant racial double standards (constantly being labelled as tough but not smart, for example) and some outright racism (banana peels and accusations of illiteracy by fans), and he always confronted it and called it out. He looked out for women and gay people too, connecting the oppression of black people to the plight of these groups as well. Unlike modern race theorists, he still believed personal responsibility was important: you can give marginalized kids opportunities and contribute to greater equality in society, but those kids have to work hard and stay out of trouble nonetheless.
Also, and this is a big point in my book, he saw racism as personal AND systemic (modern CRT strangely doesn't seem to think personal racism mattered). He acknowledged that white people were as conditioned as black people to accept certain assumptions, but he didn't let them off the hook for their assumptions and actions just because they were part of a system. He said that once a relationship of trust and care was formed with a person of any race, they became "colorless" to him, just a person; however, he clarified that this is not something that can just happen right away. We all bring assumptions and history to the table in meeting other people, and race is part of that; we can't choose to not see it. What we can do is learn about, care for, and invest in people so that race fades away and we see the human being. Modern CRT has no interest in doing this and is fatalistic about it being possible. JT carves out a much better path to King's dictum of judging people by their character not their color; this is something we have to work towards, not something that we have already achieved. Finally, JT shows that his pride in being black in no way prevented him from seeing people of many colors as equal and worthy, in contrast to the hyperbolic commentary that he was prejudiced.
If I had to criticize JT for something, it would be his embrace of corporate America. Of course, I don't necessarily begrudge him for making money through endorsements, board appointments, investments, etc; he deserved it and has every right to it. However, even though he greatly stressed education in his players, it's just a little sleazy to dress your players up in Nike gear to and make millions for yourself and the school when those players are often black and poor and you claim to be an advocate for poor black people. He came around to the idea of paying players at the end of the book, but I thought he was a little too old school on this question. Of course, as a hooper myself, I 100% disagree with his idea that we never should have installed a shot clock. The shot clock ranks with penicillin as one of the greatest inventions in human history, adding flow and speed to the greatest game on earth. Are you kidding me JT???
Anyways, this is a great book that coaches, players, history teachers/students, and others will enjoy.
The early section of this book does a great job showing the pervasive, unquestioned nature of the racial hierarchy in JT's world growing up. He lived "across the park" from the white neighborhood and interacted with almost no white people. Few people in his neighborhood thought much about careers beyond what black people were already doing or allowed to do. His white teachers at the local Catholic school literally labelled him as "retarded" when he actually had a learning disability, and their expectations for him and other black kids were incredibly low. This is a great illustration of the importance of representation, as JT only began to think of certain careers and identities as possible once he saw them in the basketball and academic worlds. If not for certain teachers and coaches who took him seriously and helped raise his eyes to higher goals, he might have been just another guy. Of course, being 6 foot 10 helped!
JT gives a fascinating account of his career at Providence and with the Celtics, where he developed his personality and sense of racial identity. He talks about the black quota system, a reverse affirmative action unwritten rule in the NBA in which teams didn't want too many black players for fear of alienating their mostly white fan bases. This is a good example of white people benefitting from racism. JT, as coach at Georgetown, unapologetically had all black teams. He talks about different sorts of "nice white people," some of which truly treated him as equal, others who could only relate to black people as teachers/instructors in a hierarchical way. He highly praises Red Auerbach for teaching him about life and coaching while also being pretty progressive on race. Red's best advice was to watch players (and people and general) when they don't have the ball; do they move around, communicate, set screens, get in the right position, box out, etc, even when most of these actions don't boost stats and aren't watched by coaches and fans? You can see the obvious link to real life here.
JT is an interesting mix of progressive and old-school. As a coach, he could be pretty brutal: he fostered tough-nosed, disciplined teams, he didn't accept half-assing in the classroom, and he cut loose guys who were disruptive or who didn't take school seriously. On race, he was what they used to call a "race-man:" someone who strongly identified as black, read deeply into black intellectual and political traditions, and saw his role as changing institutions and norms from within in order to challenge white people's assumptions and create more pride and opportunity for black people. He and his players faced significant racial double standards (constantly being labelled as tough but not smart, for example) and some outright racism (banana peels and accusations of illiteracy by fans), and he always confronted it and called it out. He looked out for women and gay people too, connecting the oppression of black people to the plight of these groups as well. Unlike modern race theorists, he still believed personal responsibility was important: you can give marginalized kids opportunities and contribute to greater equality in society, but those kids have to work hard and stay out of trouble nonetheless.
Also, and this is a big point in my book, he saw racism as personal AND systemic (modern CRT strangely doesn't seem to think personal racism mattered). He acknowledged that white people were as conditioned as black people to accept certain assumptions, but he didn't let them off the hook for their assumptions and actions just because they were part of a system. He said that once a relationship of trust and care was formed with a person of any race, they became "colorless" to him, just a person; however, he clarified that this is not something that can just happen right away. We all bring assumptions and history to the table in meeting other people, and race is part of that; we can't choose to not see it. What we can do is learn about, care for, and invest in people so that race fades away and we see the human being. Modern CRT has no interest in doing this and is fatalistic about it being possible. JT carves out a much better path to King's dictum of judging people by their character not their color; this is something we have to work towards, not something that we have already achieved. Finally, JT shows that his pride in being black in no way prevented him from seeing people of many colors as equal and worthy, in contrast to the hyperbolic commentary that he was prejudiced.
If I had to criticize JT for something, it would be his embrace of corporate America. Of course, I don't necessarily begrudge him for making money through endorsements, board appointments, investments, etc; he deserved it and has every right to it. However, even though he greatly stressed education in his players, it's just a little sleazy to dress your players up in Nike gear to and make millions for yourself and the school when those players are often black and poor and you claim to be an advocate for poor black people. He came around to the idea of paying players at the end of the book, but I thought he was a little too old school on this question. Of course, as a hooper myself, I 100% disagree with his idea that we never should have installed a shot clock. The shot clock ranks with penicillin as one of the greatest inventions in human history, adding flow and speed to the greatest game on earth. Are you kidding me JT???
Anyways, this is a great book that coaches, players, history teachers/students, and others will enjoy.
March 3, 2021
I absolutely Enjoyed This Book! Coach Thompson was always my favorite college coach....I love his candor. Coach takes you on an 11 ride talking about life and how education and basketball help shape his life....he talks about the importance of education and how he learned that at an early age from his parents. He talked about his short NBA career and how after leaving the NBA, returning to graduate school for his advance degree....Coach Thompson is definitely one of coaches with the most wins and championships both in his career as a player & coach. I LOVED his potty mouth! Coach would definitely get someone told off....and usually it was warranted. The book went on to talk about the media career he carved out for himself post his coaching career. Also, he was open and spoke about the various negative issues that came up in the media and how things were addressed. Really good read!
January 22, 2023
Amazing life! It covers his upbringing in the projects, his time in the NBA, his coaching and teaching philosophy, recruiting and coaching future NBA greats, his civil rights advocacy, being a Nike board member, and more. I liked that Allen Iverson learned his legendary crossover from a walk-on because he was humble enough to ask him to teach it to him. Thank you to Margaret for recommending this book and Haley’s grandma Bettye for getting it for me for Xmas.
February 7, 2023
Thank you to Margaret for recommending this to Bill. Thank you to Haley’s grandma Bettye for getting this for Bill for Xmas. This book allowed me to add two new basketball players to my list of basketball players I know:
Michael Jordan
Scotti Pippen
Dennis Rodman
Phil Jackson
Steve Kerr
Steph Curry
Lebron James
Kobe Bryant
Shaquille O’Neil
Bill Bradley
Juwon Howard
Craig Robinson
Franz Wagner
John Thompson
Allen Iverson
This book is a great companion text to Shoe Dog. I can’t believe he is 6’10”. I did not know his son played for Pete Carril at Princeton and then coached at Princeton! I laughed when he kept saying I did do that and I don’t regret it and I pray God will forgive me for it.
Michael Jordan
Scotti Pippen
Dennis Rodman
Phil Jackson
Steve Kerr
Steph Curry
Lebron James
Kobe Bryant
Shaquille O’Neil
Bill Bradley
Juwon Howard
Craig Robinson
Franz Wagner
John Thompson
Allen Iverson
This book is a great companion text to Shoe Dog. I can’t believe he is 6’10”. I did not know his son played for Pete Carril at Princeton and then coached at Princeton! I laughed when he kept saying I did do that and I don’t regret it and I pray God will forgive me for it.
December 24, 2020
John Thompson was a larger than life figure, both literally and figuratively. He was the first Black coach to win a NCAA Division 1 National Championship in college basketball. He was also a vocal advocate for the interests of Black athletes, willing to stick his neck out while others mouthed bland platitudes.
In "I Came As a Shadow," John Thompson tells his story in a fairly straightforward conversational style. While basketball plays a large role in this book, this is not a strictly sports story. In fact, many of the accounts of specific games are fairly perfunctory. Thompson grew up in poverty in the Washington DC area. He describes growing up in an environment where racism was so omnipresent that it was simply accepted as the way things were done. He becomes head coach for Georgetown, a university built on the backs of slaves. What made Thompson such a trailblazing -- and polarizing -- figure was his unwillingness to accept the way things were and his willingness to say something about it. Thompson points out that many of the characteristics that would be valorized with white coaches -- "toughness" and "discipline" -- were seen as negatives with him. Quite frankly, before reading this book, I was not a fan of John Thompson, though I now realize that most of the negative associations I had with him were the result of the media's consistent portrayal of him as an "angry Black man".
The only thing that kept me from giving this five stars is his somewhat selective narrative. Thompson does not portray himself as perfect and frankly admits that his concern with educating kids was largely limited to those who could play basketball well. Given his candor it was surprising that he elided any mention of the circumstances surrounding his rather contentious divorce from his wife. For someone how prides himself on telling it like it is, it seemed a bit of a cheat not to face up to some fairly significant personal failures.
All that said, "I Came As a Shadow" was a great read, and has caused me to totally reassess someone I thought I knew.
In "I Came As a Shadow," John Thompson tells his story in a fairly straightforward conversational style. While basketball plays a large role in this book, this is not a strictly sports story. In fact, many of the accounts of specific games are fairly perfunctory. Thompson grew up in poverty in the Washington DC area. He describes growing up in an environment where racism was so omnipresent that it was simply accepted as the way things were done. He becomes head coach for Georgetown, a university built on the backs of slaves. What made Thompson such a trailblazing -- and polarizing -- figure was his unwillingness to accept the way things were and his willingness to say something about it. Thompson points out that many of the characteristics that would be valorized with white coaches -- "toughness" and "discipline" -- were seen as negatives with him. Quite frankly, before reading this book, I was not a fan of John Thompson, though I now realize that most of the negative associations I had with him were the result of the media's consistent portrayal of him as an "angry Black man".
The only thing that kept me from giving this five stars is his somewhat selective narrative. Thompson does not portray himself as perfect and frankly admits that his concern with educating kids was largely limited to those who could play basketball well. Given his candor it was surprising that he elided any mention of the circumstances surrounding his rather contentious divorce from his wife. For someone how prides himself on telling it like it is, it seemed a bit of a cheat not to face up to some fairly significant personal failures.
All that said, "I Came As a Shadow" was a great read, and has caused me to totally reassess someone I thought I knew.
March 15, 2021
As a diehard Georgetown basketball fan, I was excited to read this to hear John Thompson’s perspective in his own words. Big John did more than just about anyone to make Georgetown what it is today, both on the court and as a national name in education, and it was unfortunate timing that the book was published right around when he passed away. I enjoyed learning more about his upbringing and his path to becoming a coach, and hearing his perspective about the challenges he and the team faced at Georgetown, as the Hoyas became national juggernauts and faced vitriol and racial animus from fans across the country. The book also gave me great perspective on the full trajectory of the basketball program, the full range of players that came through, and the people behind the scenes that made the program tick. The timing of this read couldn’t have been much better, as I finished it on the day the Hoyas made their return to the NCAA tournament under Patrick Ewing after a remarkable, improbably run through the Big East to tournament - I’m sure Big John would be proud. Would highly recommend to any Georgetown fan or any basketball fan who wants to better understand one of the great pioneers of the sport and someone who did so much to proudly represent the black community and lead the way for greater opportunities for black people.
August 12, 2023
Probably a 4.5/5 but I’ll round up to a 5.
Some really good behind the scenes info on Iverson / Ewing / Mourning / etc…, early days of Nike, big east formation, turnaround of Georgetown basketball, and explicit and implicit racism Thompson faced throughout his life and as a coach.
I didn’t realize he was on the Nike board for like 40 years, and didn’t quite appreciate how hated but respected he was at his peak.
My favorite part of the book was how he frequently acknowledged why people might have disliked or disagreed with him, but then made sure to get the last word - ie “I get why so and so though I was wrong. But I won and they lost so fuck them.”
Some really good behind the scenes info on Iverson / Ewing / Mourning / etc…, early days of Nike, big east formation, turnaround of Georgetown basketball, and explicit and implicit racism Thompson faced throughout his life and as a coach.
I didn’t realize he was on the Nike board for like 40 years, and didn’t quite appreciate how hated but respected he was at his peak.
My favorite part of the book was how he frequently acknowledged why people might have disliked or disagreed with him, but then made sure to get the last word - ie “I get why so and so though I was wrong. But I won and they lost so fuck them.”
June 28, 2025
The Man
I knew I would love this book because I’ve always had such admiration for Coach Thompson. He gave me that feeling that when he spoke everyone should listen. I love the way he poured into his players far beyond the basketball court. As a huge Allen Iverson fan, it warmed my heart to witness their bond. I loved the way Coach spoke about Iverson, his other players, and my all time favorite coach, John Chaney in this book. I enjoyed getting his reasoning on why he spoke out about certain things. There was so much sports history in this book. I soaked it all up like a sponge. This was such an enjoyable read for me.
I knew I would love this book because I’ve always had such admiration for Coach Thompson. He gave me that feeling that when he spoke everyone should listen. I love the way he poured into his players far beyond the basketball court. As a huge Allen Iverson fan, it warmed my heart to witness their bond. I loved the way Coach spoke about Iverson, his other players, and my all time favorite coach, John Chaney in this book. I enjoyed getting his reasoning on why he spoke out about certain things. There was so much sports history in this book. I soaked it all up like a sponge. This was such an enjoyable read for me.
January 17, 2021
Not surprisingly, much of this book is about college basketball. I enjoyed reading about coaches and players whose names I recognized, many of whom I have seen on the court, and reading about coaching from an insider. Coach Thompson's story --- particularly how he grew up in the projects in DC --- and his reasoning for his unique approach to coaching (emphasizing life lessons and academics to his players) were compelling. What I found particularly interesting, however, was Coach Thompson's description of the systemic and, often, blatant racism he faced and stood up against throughout his life and career. I learned more about racism in this book than from anything else I have read.
March 1, 2021
My friend sent me this book on accident and I’m really glad he did! Thompson has left a strong legacy in the world of collegiate athletics, and the sport of basketball as a whole. Having worked in Higher Education, I loved seeing how he approached coaching his players, and helping them grow in the individual ways the players needed.
More importantly, Thompson spoke against the racial inequality and overt racism that exists in collegiate recruiting and collegiate athletics. I learned so much, and I’m so glad there was a mix up in the books he purchased. I would never have picked this up on my own, but I’m a better person for having read it.
More importantly, Thompson spoke against the racial inequality and overt racism that exists in collegiate recruiting and collegiate athletics. I learned so much, and I’m so glad there was a mix up in the books he purchased. I would never have picked this up on my own, but I’m a better person for having read it.
August 12, 2021
If you are a Washingtonian, a basketball fan, or a person of faith with an interest in racial justice, you should read this book.
And if you, like me, are all three of those things, you should read this book right now!
And if you, like me, are all three of those things, you should read this book right now!
March 31, 2021
“I Came as a Shadow” is a fantastic book by the acclaimed basketball coach from my alma mater @georgetownuniversity, John Thompson. Coach Thompson shares his experiences as an educator & coach with acute attention to detail & inspiring words of wisdom for life. He talks about his decision making process & life philosophy/response to everything based upon heredity, environment & time. He was a true hero of fighting for what is right, particularly when it came to the fight for racial equality & justice. His shadow & his light loom large on campus, in college basketball, in sports & in society. The book’s title emanates from a poem written by his uncle: “I came as a shadow, I stand now a light; the depth of my darkness transfigures your night. My soul is a nocturne, each note is a star; the light will not blind you, so look where you are. The radiance is soothing, there’s warmth in the light. I came as a shadow to dazzle your night.” This book is dazzling indeed & a must read for Hoyas in particular, but for anyone looking to read a truly triumphant story about someone who effected real change on & off the basketball court. #georgetown #hoyasaxa #johnthompson #collegebasketball #collegehoops #icameasashadow #books
March 3, 2022
John Thompson didn't hold back in this autobiography. Aside from the actual basketball games he mentions, which kind of bored me, I learned so much about him, especially his credentials as more than a basketball coach. Thompson was known as a loose cannon, and he explains where he thinks that reputation came from and how he used that persona. He was an angry man and cites many, many examples of what made him that way, from his own church to the game of basketball. They are almost all based on the color of his skin.
This was almost a five-star for me. I enjoyed the vignettes of his players, coaches, family, and friends very much. His personal story was fascinating and inspiring. His viewpoint was blunt and understandable. Still, it appears he took this opportunity to settle every grudge he could, whether big or small. After a while, I kept asking myself why he was so focused on what seemed like something that could be forgiven. (Not everything) Even when he exposes his own faults, he seems to go a little too easy on himself. I did think this was a very good book with lots of issues to digest.
This was almost a five-star for me. I enjoyed the vignettes of his players, coaches, family, and friends very much. His personal story was fascinating and inspiring. His viewpoint was blunt and understandable. Still, it appears he took this opportunity to settle every grudge he could, whether big or small. After a while, I kept asking myself why he was so focused on what seemed like something that could be forgiven. (Not everything) Even when he exposes his own faults, he seems to go a little too easy on himself. I did think this was a very good book with lots of issues to digest.
March 4, 2022
I really loved this book. I was a basketball crazy youth during John Thompson's glory years at Georgetown. They had great players with swagger who really sparked a cultural movement and became one of my earliest memories of the celebration of black culture. I distinctly recall however that John Thompson was often portrayed as an angry black man who was racist against white people. I can see in retrospect how this was a mainstream, white media portrayal of a man who was simply unapologetically anti-racist. This book is more about racism in America than it even is about Basketball or Coach Thompson's career. I have so much respect for Coach Thompson's courage to speak out against racism and his tireless efforts to help people of color. People like John Thompson have truly been the catalysts for change in this country. It wasn't easy, he was vilified in the media, but he made a huge difference, not only to the young men he coached, but also to a generation of basketball crazy youth in the 80's and 90's.
My enduring impression of this book is that Coach Thompson was a flawed man of strong convictions who did an enormous amount of good in his life. I highly recommend this book.
My enduring impression of this book is that Coach Thompson was a flawed man of strong convictions who did an enormous amount of good in his life. I highly recommend this book.
March 19, 2022
I love college basketball, and I especially love March Madness! I watched it as a young girl, and I remember John Thompson and Georgetown. They were legendary. I was excited to listen to his autobiography in the midst of March Madness 2022. I enjoy a memoir, and this one did not disappoint. Thompson admits that he was well known for cussing like a sailor, and this book makes evidence of that. 🤣 (So, skip the book if that bothers you.) I enjoyed the humanity of Thompson that is revealed in the book. He was, first, a social worker and counselor before coaching. His care for his players was often shown in (what appeared to be) unorthodoxed ways, but there was always a method to his madness. He prioritized the education of his players as much as, if not more, than basketball. His experiences with racism as a player in college, the NBA and as a coach brought me to tears. It roots and gives context to his passion and relentless advocacy for equality in sports, education, life. A truly powerful man with a significant legacy! Loved the book!
March 26, 2023
I read this book while simultaneously listening to the audiobook. This fantastic book, which meant so much for me and walked me through so many memories was elevated by hearing the late great coach himself reading his uncles words to finished his Autobiography.
On this book, I am going to be incredibly bias and give it a 5 star rating, although I notice it's Good reads rating is already 4.49.
The book was candid! Coach gave so many quotables that were worthy to live by. He was transparent in a way that brought greater understanding to what we knew and cleared up some things that biased media had us accepting as truth.
This book uses basketball, like Coach Thompson... but it isn't a basketball book. It is a book about life. And his life is extraordinary. He saw himself primary as a teacher, who used basketball as a vehicle and he story was the story of his students, his team's, those won and the few lost. I will edit this later when my head is clearer and my heart is settled.
On this book, I am going to be incredibly bias and give it a 5 star rating, although I notice it's Good reads rating is already 4.49.
The book was candid! Coach gave so many quotables that were worthy to live by. He was transparent in a way that brought greater understanding to what we knew and cleared up some things that biased media had us accepting as truth.
This book uses basketball, like Coach Thompson... but it isn't a basketball book. It is a book about life. And his life is extraordinary. He saw himself primary as a teacher, who used basketball as a vehicle and he story was the story of his students, his team's, those won and the few lost. I will edit this later when my head is clearer and my heart is settled.
March 23, 2023
One of the better biographies I've read in a minute. Coach Thompson ("Big John") has such a distinct voice, and I can picture him sharing all of his stories while sitting in front of one of the Vegas slot machines that he loved so much. JT was incredibly important to the game of basketball, and he recognized both his significant influence and the immense scrutiny he was under as the preeminent Black head coach in college hoops.
Of course, my basketball history-loving self was drawn to the chapters about dominating the Big East, winning a title with Ewing, and coaching Iverson, Mutumbo, and Mourning, but the standout portions of the book dealt with growing up in D.C. and his commentary on larger social issues. You can feel the respect he had for his parents, and why he "always planned to be a teacher, not a basketball coach." I may not be 100% in agreement with everything JT says, but I undoubtedly admire the human being he was on and off the court.
"I wouldn't have been satisfied with just being a basketball coach. I needed that extra responsibility, something to fuss about and fight for. Despite how people tried to portray us, I didn't accept it, nor did I apologize. I didn't change what we were doing or become defensive in my actions. It gave me great satisfaction to challenge situations I felt were unfair. [...] My life would have felt empty without it."
Of course, my basketball history-loving self was drawn to the chapters about dominating the Big East, winning a title with Ewing, and coaching Iverson, Mutumbo, and Mourning, but the standout portions of the book dealt with growing up in D.C. and his commentary on larger social issues. You can feel the respect he had for his parents, and why he "always planned to be a teacher, not a basketball coach." I may not be 100% in agreement with everything JT says, but I undoubtedly admire the human being he was on and off the court.
"I wouldn't have been satisfied with just being a basketball coach. I needed that extra responsibility, something to fuss about and fight for. Despite how people tried to portray us, I didn't accept it, nor did I apologize. I didn't change what we were doing or become defensive in my actions. It gave me great satisfaction to challenge situations I felt were unfair. [...] My life would have felt empty without it."
April 7, 2021
Before the internet, Twitter, and streaming, a kid like me in a backwater Oregon town had limited exposure to college athletics and even pro sports. I followed what I could, but I was only ten years old when Georgetown won the championship (and my teams were Oklahoma and Oregon anyway). Still, as a provincial rube, even I knew who John Thompson was, though I did not know his reputation or the fear he put in white folks!
Along comes this book to back-fill my knowledge. Even if you don't like basketball or sports, a lot of this autobiography will be of interest if you care about civil rights, social issues, and the myriad ways to be antiracist.
Along comes this book to back-fill my knowledge. Even if you don't like basketball or sports, a lot of this autobiography will be of interest if you care about civil rights, social issues, and the myriad ways to be antiracist.
February 4, 2023
A fascinating insight into the life and mind of one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time.
“I always planned to be a teacher, not a basketball coach. I used basketball as an instrument to teach. My classroom was the court.” - John Thompson
The late John Thompson discusses his journey as a basketball coach, a parent and an educator in this autobiography. It's massive in scope spanning many decades yet manageable as he breaks up his life into vignettes with teachings that bookend each one. Creating opportunity for Black athletes and coaches was a cornerstone of Thompson’s legacy and that was central in his memoir.
“I always planned to be a teacher, not a basketball coach. I used basketball as an instrument to teach. My classroom was the court.” - John Thompson
The late John Thompson discusses his journey as a basketball coach, a parent and an educator in this autobiography. It's massive in scope spanning many decades yet manageable as he breaks up his life into vignettes with teachings that bookend each one. Creating opportunity for Black athletes and coaches was a cornerstone of Thompson’s legacy and that was central in his memoir.
August 9, 2025
More than a sports memoir, I Came as a Shadow is a very honest, nuanced look at leadership, life, and the game of basketball. As a basketball coach myself, I was fascinated by the rare inside look at John Thompson’s journey—his upbringing, his playing career, his legendary time at Georgetown, and his tireless advocacy for his players as people first. Thompson’s honesty is refreshing; he doesn’t romanticize the game or his own role in it. Instead, he shares the complexity, the contradictions, and the hard truths that come with leading, mentoring, and pushing people toward their potential. Real, thoughtful, and inspiring.
April 18, 2021
I picked this for a book review in a class on Blackness in Sport and loved it. Being a basketball fan I loved his stories and everything he recalled from his career but his experiences with racism and the honesty just blew my mind. It was weird to hear him talk about the same era that my dad grew up watching but then to hear everything that was happening behind the game. I’d recommend for any basketball fan and also anyone who’s paid attention to athlete activism this past year because John Thompson was an expert on both
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