Coach John Thompson was a towering figure – literally and figuratively – in the worlds of Basketball, academia, sports business, and American culture writ large. His autobiography, I CAME AS A SHADOW, co-authored with Jesse Washington, is a fascinating journey through his life and legacy. The book gives readers deep insight into what made Coach Thompson tick and what drove him to succeed. In my opinion, it also makes a strong argument that we should view Coach Thompson as a singularly influential person in American history during the second half of the 20th century. Descended from the community of enslaved people in Maryland from which the Jesuits sold 272 men, women, and children for $3 million in profit in the 1830s to preserve the future of Georgetown University, Coach Thompson’s life proves that the history of American society and institutions is inseparable from the history of Black people in North America. I highly recommend I CAME AS A SHADOW for anyone who is a fan of Basketball, sports in general, or 20th century American history.