Photos showing how a basketball coaching program has provided self confidence for incarcerated men

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Photos showing how a basketball coaching program has provided self confidence for incarcerated men

2025-06-23 19:57 Last Updated At：20:02

VACAVILLE, Calif. (AP) — The UK-based Twinning Project is partnering with the Golden State Warriors in a program to teach incarcerated men at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, California, how to coach basketball. The program has provided a purpose and self confidence for these men, some of whom are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

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Twinning Project cohort 2 participants gather before performing drills during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Haley Cremen, Program Coordinator of the Golden State Warriors Basketball Academy, right, hugs Jay Cornish as he and other Twinning Project cohort 2 participants graduate during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Michael San Agustin, middle, and other Twinning Project cohort 2 participants applaud speakers during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Former NBA basketball player Festus Ezeli, top right, celebrates with coaches and Twinning Project cohort 2 graduates during the project's collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Viet Kim Le, foreground, smiles after making a basket as he and other Twinning Project cohort 2 perform basketball drills during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Barry Monroe, left, guards former NBA basketball player Festus Ezeli as Twinning Project cohort 2 participants perform drills during the project's collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Jonah Dillingham performs basketball drills with other Twinning Project cohort 2 participants during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Anthony Silva, middle left, practices with Viet Kim Le as they and other Twinning Project cohort 2 participants perform basketball drills during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Twinning Project cohort 2 participants perform basketball drills during the project's collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Ray Woodfork, a graduate of Twinning Project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's cohort 1, middle, performs a rap song in front of cohort 2 participants and Warriors Basketball Academy members at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Mental skills coach Graham Betchart, left, laughs with former NBA basketball player Festus Ezeli before Twinning Project cohort 2 participants graduated during the project's collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Twinning Project cohort 2 participants gather before performing basketball drills during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Twinning Project cohort 2 participants perform basketball drills during the project's collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Daniel Lopez performs a basketball drill with other Twinning Project cohort 2 participants during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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Twinning Project cohort 2 participants gather before performing drills during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Haley Cremen, Program Coordinator of the Golden State Warriors Basketball Academy, right, hugs Jay Cornish as he and other Twinning Project cohort 2 participants graduate during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Michael San Agustin, middle, and other Twinning Project cohort 2 participants applaud speakers during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Former NBA basketball player Festus Ezeli, top right, celebrates with coaches and Twinning Project cohort 2 graduates during the project's collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Viet Kim Le, foreground, smiles after making a basket as he and other Twinning Project cohort 2 perform basketball drills during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Barry Monroe, left, guards former NBA basketball player Festus Ezeli as Twinning Project cohort 2 participants perform drills during the project's collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Jonah Dillingham performs basketball drills with other Twinning Project cohort 2 participants during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Anthony Silva, middle left, practices with Viet Kim Le as they and other Twinning Project cohort 2 participants perform basketball drills during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Twinning Project cohort 2 participants perform basketball drills during the project's collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Ray Woodfork, a graduate of Twinning Project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's cohort 1, middle, performs a rap song in front of cohort 2 participants and Warriors Basketball Academy members at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Mental skills coach Graham Betchart, left, laughs with former NBA basketball player Festus Ezeli before Twinning Project cohort 2 participants graduated during the project's collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Twinning Project cohort 2 participants gather before performing basketball drills during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Twinning Project cohort 2 participants perform basketball drills during the project's collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Daniel Lopez performs a basketball drill with other Twinning Project cohort 2 participants during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Kawhi Leonard scores career-best 55 points, ties Clippers' franchise record

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Close to grabbing a franchise record all for himself, Kawhi Leonard elected to take a pass in order to be fresh for another day.

Team-oriented to the core, Leonard was actually a bit selfish by request Sunday, scoring a career-high 55 points to lift the Los Angeles Clippers to a 112-99 victory over the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.

The Clippers are now on a season-best four-game winning streak and a recent scoring burst from Leonard is the primary reason.

Leonard was told by head coach Tyronn Lue he was closing in on the franchise scoring record but decided to keep his fourth-quarter floor time to a modest six minutes and departed with just under a minute remaining.

He now shares the team mark for points in a game with teammate James Harden.

“Like I told (Lue), I would rather play another game than go out there and risk it,” Leonard said. “Hopefully we can get another win and be in the same situation. It is what it is.”

Harden teased Leonard afterward that it took him long enough to pull off a 50-point game, while also shouting “double nickels,” in the locker room afterward. Leonard is in his 14th season.

“It was a beautiful thing to see how efficient, how effortless it was,” Harden said. “It was just so smooth. He got to whatever spot he wanted to and once you get to that spot it’s not even about the defender. It’s about him making the shot.

“Overly happy for him because behind the scenes you watch somebody and how hard they work. ... For him, what he had to battle through just to go out there and be himself was a beautiful thing to see.”

Slowed by knee injuries in recent years, Leonard missed 10 games earlier this season with ankle and foot issues. He finally reached 40 minutes in a game during a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers last week that started the winning streak. He did it again in a victory Friday.

He went 17 of 26 from the floor against the Pistons and 16 of 17 from the free-throw line while playing 39 minutes.

“He’s finally getting healthy and finally being able to play enough minutes to be very effective,” Lue said. “When he’s healthy, he’s one of the top guys in the league. We’ve been able to see that of late.”

With a 41-point game Tuesday against the Houston Rockets, Leonard is the second player in franchise history to score at least 40 points in back-to-back home games along with Bob McAdoo.

Leonard scored 26 points in the third quarter alone Sunday, but he also missed his lone free throw of the night in the period. It not only was the point he needed to set the franchise scoring record, the miss ended his franchise-record run at 64 consecutive made free throws.

“I’ve never really kind of been in this situation,” said Leonard, who is averaging 39.0 points over the last four games. “I’m more trying to get guys the ball and sharing it more than what I have been doing. But the coaches need me to be aggressive the entire game.

“It’s just a different evolution of me trying to shoot more 3s and trying to evolve my game to today’s game.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Photos showing how a basketball coaching program has provided self confidence for incarcerated men

Sport

Photos showing how a basketball coaching program has provided self confidence for incarcerated men

Twinning Project cohort 2 participants gather before performing drills during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Twinning Project cohort 2 participants perform basketball drills during the project's collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Twinning Project cohort 2 participants perform basketball drills during the project's collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Twinning Project cohort 2 participants gather before performing drills during the project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Twinning Project cohort 2 participants perform basketball drills during the project's collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Twinning Project cohort 2 participants perform basketball drills during the project's collaboration with the Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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