Warriors, Twinning Project, and The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

The Golden State Warriors, in collaboration with the Twinning Project and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), have launched a six-week basketball program aimed at decreasing recidivism rates and enhancing the readiness of incarcerated individuals for life post-release at California State Prison Solano, it was announced today. Led by Warriors Basketball Academy staff and representatives from Positive Coaching Alliance, the program will involve a series of clinics concentrating on coaching fundamentals, leadership, and relationship building.

Yesterday marked the first session of the program, which included a lesson on positive teaching principles and basketball practice elements. Sessions will take place each Tuesday from October 15 to November 19.

Since its inception in 2018, the Twinning Project has been dedicated to “twinning” prisons with professional sports clubs around the world, offering coaching and teaching programs that pave the way for employment opportunities and contribute to reducing criminal behavior. The organization has previously worked with soccer clubs in Great Britain and the United States, but this marks the first time they have worked with an NBA team.

“The Warriors are proud to launch a first-of-its-kind program in the country focused on supporting incarcerated individuals,” said Warriors Senior Vice President of Government and Community Relations Yoyo Murphy. “We’ve enlisted the help and partnership of mental health experts, life coaches, and former players to make these sessions as impactful as possible, and hope that they help foster leadership, resilience, and a sense of community among individuals who are preparing for a fresh start.”

Throughout the program, incarcerated individuals will participate in four-hour sessions designed to teach them how to structure practice programs, coach with empathy, and motivate athletes through positive reinforcement. Upon finishing the program, participants will demonstrate their newfound skills by organizing their own basketball clinics. They will also be honored with a graduation ceremony, a completion certificate, and a personalized Warriors jersey.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with the Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections to launch the first Twinning Project basketball intervention in the United States,” said Twinning Project Chief Executive Officer Hilton Freund MBE. “Sport can act as a powerful catalyst for change, and we are delighted to scale this globally recognized sports-based criminal justice initiative thanks to the support of these valuable stakeholders.”  

This latest collaboration is aligned with the CDCR’s ongoing efforts to support rehabilitation and success when incarcerated individuals leave their facilities.

“As we expand our rehabilitation efforts, collaboration is the key to success,” said CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber. “Teaming up with the Warriors and the Twinning Project is a perfect example of our commitment to creating programs that help incarcerated individuals prepare for the future while making California communities safer inside and outside of prisons.”