In the concrete world of Solano State Prison, something extraordinary is happening that’s way more transformative than your average prison rehabilitation program. The Golden State Warriors have rolled up their sleeves and are proving that basketball isn’t just a game, it’s a lifeline.

The Twinning Project, an innovative coaching initiative, is turning incarcerated individuals into certified basketball coaches, giving them skills, hope, and a fresh perspective on life. Take Ray Woodfork, for instance, a former gang member who once had dreams of NBA stardom, now channeling his energy into personal growth and mentorship.

Breaking Cycles, Building Dreams

What makes this program radical isn’t just the basketball training, but the mental skills development. Participants learn techniques like the “palms down” approach, a method of staying calm and focused when confronted with triggering situations. For men like Woodfork, this isn’t just about coaching; it’s about fundamental personal transformation.

More Than Just a Game

The Warriors’ program goes beyond traditional rehabilitation. It provides these men with a sense of purpose, community, and most importantly, hope. By teaching coaching skills, the program helps participants reimagine their identities beyond their past mistakes.

Healing Through Hoops

Studies have shown remarkable outcomes: improved behavior, reduced violence, and strengthened interpersonal relationships. What started as a European soccer initiative has now become a powerful model of rehabilitation that the NBA is watching closely.

Woodfork’s journey, from potential NBA player to incarcerated individual to certified coach, embodies the program’s core message: people are more than their worst moments. As he raps, “It’s deeper than the game and that name on your shirt, it’s the Twinning Project, where real men put in work”.