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There is no fall for J. Cole.
The 41-year-old rapper, who recently released his seventh studio album, “The Fall Off,” will play professional basketball in China, he recently announced.
ESPN reported that the two-time Grammy Award winner, whose real name is Jermaine Cole, signed a contract with the Nanjing Monkey Kings of the Chinese Basketball Association.
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Jermaine Cole of Patriots Basketball Club dribbles the ball against Marcus Christopher Crawford of Union Sportive Monastirienne during the second half at the Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, on May 22, 2021. (Nicole Sweet/BAL/African Basketball League/Getty Images)
Cole has played professional basketball abroad before, preparing for the Rwanda Patriots of the Basketball Africa League in 2021 and the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League the following year.
The Fayetteville, North Carolina native hinted at the news last week in an interview with Revolt.
“Basketball shit is like I’m trying to scratch one last itch, let me see if I can do this,” Cole said during the interview. “Could he train and be able to play professionally because these teams in these leagues look at him like, ‘He’s not a…? He can come on the court and he can give our league some publicity.'”
Cole said the Monkey Kings offered him to play for them last year.
Jermaine Cole of the Patriots Basketball Club passes the ball against the Rivers Hoopers Basketball Club during the second half at the Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, on May 16, 2021. The game marked the start of the inaugural regular season of the 12-team league, a partnership between the NBA and FIBA. (Nicole Sweet/BAL/Basketball Africa League via Getty Images)
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“I’m looking at the clock like, boy, I’m getting older. This might be my last chance. I’m going to keep my word and show up and play a couple games, even though I know I’m not in the best shape because of the album. I’m going to go out and have fun with it.”
Cole joined the mainstream rap game in the early 2010s, with his debut album, “Cole World: The Sideline Story,” released in 2011 and featuring hits like “Work Out” and “In The Morning” with fellow basketball fan Drake.
Patriots Basketball Club’s Jermaine Cole is congratulated by teammate Brandon Costner during the second half against the Rivers Hoopers at the Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda, on May 16, 2021, the start of the inaugural Basketball Africa League regular season. (Nicole Sweet/BAL/Basketball Africa League via Getty Images)
Cole is also a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets as part of the group that purchased the organization from Michael Jordan for $3 billion.
