J. Cole Takes to the Basketball Court in China

It seems like there’s no stopping J. Cole. The 41-year-old rapper, known for his recent album “The Fall Off,” has made quite the announcement: he’ll be playing professional basketball in China.

Reports indicate that Cole, whose real name is Jermaine Cole, has signed with the Nanjing Monkey Kings of the Chinese Basketball Association. This comes after he previously took his talents overseas, playing with the Rwanda Patriots in 2021 and the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League the following year.

Cole hinted at this development in a recent interview with Revolt. He reflected on his dual passions—music and basketball—saying, “The basketball world is like me scratching that last itch and trying to see, hey, I can do this.” It’s interesting to note that teams seem to view him as a remarkable player who could elevate their league’s profile.

The offer to join the Monkey Kings actually came last year, but now he’s ready to embrace this new chapter. He admits, “I’m looking at the clock and thinking I’m getting older. This might be my last chance. I’m going to keep my commitment to them and go out and play some games, although I know I’m not in the best shape because of the album. I’m going to go out and have fun.”

J. Cole’s journey in the music industry kicked off in the early 2010s with his debut album “Cole World: The Sideline Story,” featuring hits like “Workout” and collaborations with fellow basketball enthusiast Drake. Now, he’s merging those two worlds again, showing that his love for the game runs deep.

Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that Cole holds a minority stake in the Charlotte Hornets, having joined the group that bought the team from Michael Jordan for a staggering $3 billion. His multifaceted career is truly inspiring, blurring the lines between music and athletics.