J. Cole signs with China's Nanjing Monkey Kings
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- J. Cole signed a contract to play in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Nanjing Monkey Kings, per sources who told ESPN on Wednesday.
- Cole had committed to playing a few games for the Chinese team last year and is now following through, marking his third professional sports league appearance.
- Cole previously played with the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League in 2021 and with the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2022, after playing high school basketball in North Carolina.
- J. Cole won a Grammy in 2020 for Best Rap Song ("A Lot" by 21 Savage featuring J. Cole) and has six Platinum albums plus multiple BET Hip Hop Awards to his name.
- His latest album, "The Fall-Off," was released in February, meaning the CBA signing comes amid an active musical period rather than a hiatus.
Why it matters: J. Cole joining the CBA is the third time a multi-Platinum, Grammy-winning artist has prioritized a pro basketball roster spot — and unlike celebrity cameos, he's following through on a commitment made a year ago. The Nanjing Monkey Kings get one of music's biggest live draws, while Cole continues treating basketball as a parallel career, not a hobby, playing competitive games while releasing albums.
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