Retired NBA Player Jumaine Jones Talks About His NonProfit & Mental Health

Known as the “Thrilla From Camilla”, Jumaine Jones is originally from Cocoa, Florida, he moved to South Georgia as a freshman, where he played competitive high school basketball in the tiny town of Camilla, Georgia. He was an NBA player from 1999 to 2007 drafted from the University of Georgia, he played the small forward and power forward positions.

Tell us about your nonprofit.

Jumaine Jones: My nonprofit is called, “Beyond The Hardwood, INC.” We are committed to educating and empowering athletes and the community; By building their self-esteem, raising mental health awareness, and creating transformative life skills. It gives me that opportunity to be very transparent about my failures and experiences with mental health issues and how I was able to fix some things and how some are still everyday struggles where I have to be committed to getting the help I need.

When did you start this venture and how did you get involved?

Jumaine: I was in a space where I felt good and not embarrassed about things I had been through and I felt with me having the platform that I have that if I came out to talk about them openly, that I could help a lot of athletes and people in the community that felt they were going through things alone. It’s to give them that safe space to speak their truth and with that happening, the healing begins and that’s what I want to do is help others by sharing my experiences.

What types of programs does your nonprofit offer?

Jumaine: We offer wellness programs: Licensed Sports Psychologist, Mental Health, and Behavioral Counseling. Academic Services: Tutoring, ACT/SAT Prep, Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Diversity & Inclusion, and Mentoring from Business Professionals, Professional Athletes, etc.

What motivates you?

Jumaine: Helping others motivates me. If I can help one person, it keeps me going to help the next person. It’s my passion.

What is your take on mental health & wellness for athletes?

Jumaine: I feel that Mental Health & Wellness is no longer being ignored like it was when I was going through the process, and athletes are opening up more about their issues. No one should have to be afraid to be open about things they may be going through. As an athlete, you’re always expected to be Superman. What happens if you don’t feel like being Superman that day? I am very happy that things are getting better in this space and I will continue to share my experiences where everyone can feel human because we all are. I will also continue to educate as I still continue to learn more as well.

What makes your programs unique?

Jumaine: What makes my program special is that it’s built up around professional athletes and CEOs who are open to discuss the issues and how they overcame them. Experience has always been the best teacher and we are all around the world to educate and discuss why it’s important to open up.

Are there any short-term goals you’d like to accomplish in the next few months to a couple of years?

Jumaine: My short-term goals are to finish up my book in hopes that it will open up opportunities for me to speak to the world of athletes and companies. The more people I can reach out to, the more people I can help. Playing professional basketball for 16 years was no easy task and neither was getting past my mental health issues and if my transparency about the process can help, I’m all for it and ready to do what I can for each individual, one person at a time.

My long-term goals would be able to build each and every year on the number of people that come through our program. Not only in the United States but the world. My 16 years playing basketball was 8 years in the NBA and 8 years Internationally, so I see the world in a different light and I will play my part.

Which strengths do you believe make a great athlete?

Jumaine: Sports are 80 percent mental, so I feel the biggest strength of a great athlete has to be the mental part.

What else would you like to share?

Jumaine: I am also the Founder and President of Beyond The Hardwood Academy, LLC. We create athletic events and mentoring programs that empower our youth to excel in athletics, leadership, literacy, and community service. You can follow me on Facebook: Beyond The Hardwood Academy, LLC IG: _beyondthehardwood and you can go onto our website: beyondthehardwood.net.

I am also the GM of the Women’s Professional Basketball Association (WPBA) and we are doing great things out in the community to empower our young females as well. You can follow us on Facebook: thewpba IG: the_wpba and go onto our website: tmilburn@thewpba.com.