J Cole Signs With Nanjing Monkey Kings for CBA Stint
Rapper j cole has signed a contract to play with the Nanjing Monkey Kings of the Chinese Basketball Association, Shams Charania said. He committed to the team last year but was unable to suit up then, and will now honor that commitment. It is unclear when he will debut as less than a month remains in the 2025-26 CBA season.
J Cole’s pro hoops track record
J Cole’s professional basketball résumé is short but geographically varied. As a player, j cole last suited up for the Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League and earlier played three games for the Rwandan Patriots in the Basketball Africa League. In the 2021-22 season with the Shooting Stars he appeared in five games, averaging 2. 4 points, 0. 6 rebounds and 0. 4 steals while shooting 50 per cent from the field and 50 per cent from three in 9. 9 minutes per game. The Shooting Stars advanced to the CEBL championship game that season and lost to the Hamilton Honey Badgers; j cole did not play in that final but attended and cheered from the sidelines.
Immediate reactions
J. Cole, multi-platinum hip-hop artist and multi-time Grammy Award-winner, offered a line that has echoed through his public life: “Fool me one time, shame on you. Fool me twice, can’t put the blame on you. Fool me three times… ” The remark was included in coverage of his move and serves as a personal refrain as j cole shifts focus back to professional basketball. j cole released his sixth studio album, The Fall-Off, a little under two months ago, underscoring that his public schedule has balanced music and hoops over recent seasons.
What’s next
Key questions remain: when j cole will suit up, how the Nanjing Monkey Kings plan to use him, and whether the team will register him before the season ends. Less than a month remains in the 2025-26 CBA season, leaving a narrow window for a debut and roster paperwork. At 41 years old, j cole faces a steep climb back into game shape at the professional level, but the commitment in place indicates the team and player intend to follow through. Expect updates on roster status and any game-day availability as the club finalizes its plans and j cole prepares to honor the contract he made last year.
