From the Booth to the Court: J. Cole Reportedly Joining China's Nanjing Monkey Kings
Grammy-winning rapper J. Cole is reportedly taking his basketball ambitions to China, joining the Nanjing Monkey Kings after stints in Rwanda and Canada.
It appears J. Cole is about to add another chapter to his intriguing basketball journey. The 6'3" rapper, who has previously showcased his skills in Rwanda and Toronto, is reportedly heading to Nanjing, China to play for the Nanjing Monkey Kings. News and footage of Cole attending a Monkey Kings game surfaced on social media this week.
According to ESPN, which initially broke the story, Cole has committed to playing a few games for the team, though the exact number remains unspecified. The Monkey Kings are a notable team, having previously featured NBA talents like Willie Cauley-Stein, Antonio Blakeney, and Tacko Fall.
Representatives for Cole have yet to release an official statement.
Cole, 41, honed his basketball skills in high school in Fayetteville, North Carolina. In 2021, he played three games as a guard for the Basketball Africa League’s Rwanda Patriots, averaging 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. The following year, he joined the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s Scarborough Shooting Stars in Toronto, improving his average to 2.4 points, 0.6 rebounds, and 0.4 assists. He also participated in the NBA Celebrity Game in 2012.
The rapper, a two-time Grammy winner, had hinted at the possibility of playing in China, specifically for the Monkey Kings, during podcast appearances promoting his latest album, The Fall-Off. He mentioned that the team had extended an offer last year. "I’m looking at the clock like, boy, I’m getting older," Cole said. "This might be my last shot. I’m going to keep my word to them and show up and play a couple of games. … I’m going to go out there and have fun with it."
"[J. Cole] coming to China can really raise the CBA’s profile on a global scale,” said Zhen Wang, the team’s general manager. “Since he’s the minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, we’re hoping that through his position, he can maybe help more of our domestic players get opportunities to train and play in the U.S.”
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