Key Takeaways
- J. Cole signed with the Nanjing Monkey Kings in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).
- On Cam’ron’s “Talk With Flee,” Cole confirmed he’d only “show up and play a couple of games.”
- His basketball background includes time in the Basketball Africa League and Canada’s Elite Basketball League.
J. Cole’s hoop dreams are still alive and well. On Wednesday (April 1), ESPN reported that the North Carolina rapper signed a contract to play for the Nanjing Monkey Kings in the CBA.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, Cole already “committed to playing a few games” for the Nanjing-based team last year, and now he’s following through on that promise. Footage posted by HoopsChina and the CBA’s Instagram showed Cole receiving flowers upon arriving in the country.
Another post noted that Cole wouldn’t suit up for that night’s game and would instead take part in a “pre-game warmup,” which means fans will likely get to see him in action during one or more of the Monkey Kings’ matchups scheduled throughout April.
Why J. Cole will probably only play a handful of games with the Nanjing Monkey Kings
For obvious reasons, given the 2025-26 season is already more than halfway through, Cole’s stint with the Monkey Kings won’t last too long. Last week, during his sit-down with Cam’ron on "Talk With Flee," the “No Role Modelz” artist confirmed he’d only “show up and play a couple of games.”
“The basketball s**t is like me just trying to scratch a last itch of like, ‘Yo, let me see if I can do this,’” Cole told the Harlem native. “Could I train and be able to go play professional because these teams in these leagues are looking at it like, ‘He’s not a**. He can come be on the court, and he can give our league some publicity.’”
Cole also admitted that at 41, he knows he’s running out of time to compete on a pro level. “I’m looking at the clock like, ‘Boy, I’m getting older. This might be my last shot,’” he said. “I’m going to keep my word to them and show up and play a couple of games, although I know I’m not in the best of shape because the album, [The Fall-Off]. I’m going to go out there and have fun with it.” See the viral interview below.
J. Cole’s long-standing connection to basketball
Whether it’s The Warm Up cover or his more recent time playing ball overseas, longtime fans know Cole has always been serious about basketball. Having played for Fayetteville’s Terry Sanford High School team, the “Lights Please” artist joined the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in 2021. He later suited up for the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) in 2022, per ESPN.
