Grammy-winning rapper J. Cole has officially signed a contract to play in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Nanjing Monkey Kings, according to NBA insider Shams Charania.
“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,” Charania reported on Wednesday.
This marks the third professional basketball league that Cole has joined. He previously competed in the Basketball Africa League in 2021 and the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2022, establishing himself as one of the few artists to cross into professional basketball internationally.
Cole’s signing with the Monkey Kings highlights the growing trend of high-profile athletes and entertainers participating in the Chinese Basketball Association, which has attracted international talent in recent years. Sources indicate that the contract will allow Cole to play multiple games, expanding his professional basketball footprint in Asia.
The rapper’s prior basketball experience includes stints with the Raleigh-based North Carolina teams in the Basketball Africa League and Canada’s CEBL. Charania noted that Cole’s commitment to basketball has remained serious, despite his demanding music schedule.