Multi-platinum rapper J. Cole has made a return to professional basketball, signing a contract to play in the Chinese Basketball Association for the Nanjing Monkey Kings, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
J. Cole has signed a contract to play in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Nanjing Monkey Kings, per ESPN sources. The multi-time Grammy award-winning and multi-platinum artist had committed to playing a few games for the Chinese team last year, and now follows through. pic.twitter.com/8fFyHv1fvY
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— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 2, 2026
This will be Cole’s third time playing professional basketball. He played for the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League in 2021 and then for the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2022.
Shortly after the official announcement, Cole posted a video to the social media platform Douyin.
Cole actually attempted to join the St. John’s Red Storm as a walk-on after high school, but didn’t make the cut. He released his newest album, “The Fall-Off”, in February. Now, he’s headed back to the hardwood.
James Parker contributed to this story.
