J. Cole Signs to Play Basketball in China

Rapper J. Cole has officially signed a contract to play basketball in China.

The St. John’s University alum and Grammy-winning artist will join the Nanjing Monkey Kings in the Chinese Basketball Association. This was reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania late Wednesday night.

Cole seemed to confirm this exciting news during an interview on “Talk to Free,” released on March 25th.

“Being a basketball player is like me scratching that last itch. Let’s see if I can do it,” he shared. “Can he train and play professionally? Because teams in these leagues might think he’s just a celebrity. He can, you know, add some profile to our league.”

Interestingly, the offer to play came from the team last year, according to Cole.

“When I look at the clock, I think I’m getting old. This might be my last chance,” he reflected. “I’m gonna keep my promise to them and play some games. But I’m aware I won’t be in peak shape because of my album. I just want to go out there and have fun.”

At 41, Cole is no stranger to the basketball court, having played in the Basketball Africa League in 2021 and the Canadian Elite Basketball League the following year.

The Chinese Basketball Association stands out as a step above his previous experiences.

In 2021, he participated in three games with the Rwanda Patriots, averaging 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds in about 15 minutes of play. Later, in Canada, he appeared in five games with the Scarborough Shooting Stars, with averages of 2.4 points and 0.6 rebounds.

The multi-platinum artist, whose latest album, “The Fall Off,” was released earlier this year, transitioned from playing basketball in high school in North Carolina to becoming a music superstar.