Summary
- Grammy-winning rapper J. Cole has officially signed a professional basketball contract with the Nanjing Monkey Kings of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA)
- The 41-year-old artist’s move marks his third stint in a professional basketball league, following brief appearances in Africa and Canada
- The sports announcement arrives just months after the highly anticipated release of his latest album, The Fall-Off
J. Cole is taking his talents to China. The multi-platinum rapper and Grammy winner has officially signed a professional basketball contract with the Nanjing Monkey Kings of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). Confirming reports initially broken by ESPN‘s Shams Charania, Cole has committed to lacing up his sneakers for the Chinese team to fulfill a promise he made to the organization last year.
This latest signing marks the 41-year-old artist’s third formal venture into professional basketball. Cole previously suited up for the Rwanda Patriots during the inaugural season of the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in 2021. The following year, he joined the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), where he continued to showcase his deep-rooted passion for the game before stepping away to fulfill his touring obligations.
Addressing his continued pursuit of the sport, Cole spoke candidly during a recent interview on the Talk with Flee podcast. “The basketball s— is like me just trying to scratch a last itch of, let me see if I can do this,” he explained, acknowledging that while international teams benefit heavily from the massive publicity he brings, he genuinely wants to test his abilities on the court. “I’m looking at the clock like, boy, I’m getting older. This might be my last shot. I’m going to keep my word to them and show up and play a couple of games.”
The CBA is widely considered one of the top professional basketball leagues in Asia, frequently hosting former NBA talent and elite international athletes. While Cole admitted he might not be in peak game shape right now due to focusing on his music, his dedication to the sport continues to blur the lines between global entertainment and athletic grit.
The basketball crossover arrives amidst a massive year for the artist, coming shortly after the February release of his highly anticipated studio album, The Fall-Off.
