J. Cole Joins Chinese Basketball Team for Third Professional Sports Engagement

Hip-hop artist J. Cole, aged 41, has agreed to terms with the Nanjing Monkey Kings, a team in the Chinese Basketball Association, marking his third professional basketball contract outside the United States. Previously, he participated with the Patriots in Rwanda during 2021 and the Scarborough Shooting Stars in Canada in 2022. Cole intends to appear in a limited number of games for the Monkey Kings while managing commitments related to his music career, including his album 'The Fall-Off' and an upcoming tour. His manager, Ibrahim Hamad, confirmed the signing via social media, noting Cole's enduring passion for the sport. Videos and images shared online depict Cole with the team in Nanjing, though he did not participate in a recent match. Cole has a background in basketball from his high school days in North Carolina and a walk-on attempt at St. John's University. He has often referenced basketball in his musical work. In a podcast discussion, Cole expressed that playing professionally abroad fulfills a personal ambition, acknowledging it provides publicity for the leagues. He mentioned feeling this might be a final opportunity due to his age and current focus on music.