J. Cole to Join Chinese Basketball Team Before He Heads Out on Tour

Ilana KaplanThu, April 2, 2026 at 6:10 PM UTC

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J. Cole has signed onto join a Chinese Basketball team

The rapper confirmed the news in an episode of Talk With Flee on Wednesday, March 26 and ESPN confirmed on Wednesday, April 1

J. Cole previously played with the Rwanda Patriots in 2021 and with the Scarborough Shooting Star in 2022

J. Cole is hitting the court again!

During an an episode Talk With Flee on Wednesday, March 26, the rapper confirmed that he would be playing for a Chinese basketball team. ESPN reported that he had signed with the Chinese Basketball Association’s Nanjing Monkey Kings on Monday, April 1.

Cole also shared a video on the Chinese social media platform Douyin revealing he had arrived in China, per Who Likes Sports?

“The basketball s--- is like me just trying to scratch a last itch of, let me see if I can do this,” Cole (born Jermaine Lemarr Cole), 41, said during his interview on Talk With Flee.

J. Cole in May 2021 in Kingali, RwandaCredit: Julien Bacot/NBAE via Getty

He continued, “Could I train and be able to go play professional because these teams in these leagues are looking at it like, ‘He’s not ass. He can come be on the court and he can give our league some publicity.”

During the conversation, Cole revealed that the team had made an offer to him last year.

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“I’m looking at the clock like, boy, I’m getting older. This might be my last shot,” he said. “I’m going to keep my word to them and show up and play a couple of games, although I know I’m not in the best of shape because the album. I’m going to go out there and have fun with it.”

Per ESPN, this will be the third time Cole has played in a professional sports league.

J. Cole in May 2021 in Kigali, RwandaCredit: Nicole Sweet/BAL/Basketball Africa League via Getty

In 2021, he played with the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League, and in 2022, he played with the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.

Cole previously played high school basketball in North Carolina.

J. Cole in March 2026Credit: REVOLT/YouTube

In 2020, Cole took home a Grammy for Best Rap Song ("A Lot" by 21 Savage, which he was featured on). Throughout his career, he has earned several platinum albums and has produced songs Kendrick Lamar, Janet Jackson, Young Thug and more.

Cole released his latest album The Fall-Off in February and is set to kick off its tour on July 11 in Charlotte, N.C.

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Source: “AOL Sports”