Grammy-winning rapper J. Cole to play basketball in China
Grammy-winning rapper J. Cole to play basketball in China
Elizabeth Flores, USA TODAYThu, April 2, 2026 at 11:50 AM UTC
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J. Cole is trading the mic for the hardwood again. The Grammy-winning, multi-platinum rapper, born Jermaine Cole, has signed to play in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), ESPN reported.
Cole will suit up for the Nanjing Monkey Kings in Jiangsu, China, though the number of games he has committed to remains unclear. It is not his first foray into professional basketball.
In 2021, he played for the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League, recording 5 points, 3 assists, and 5 rebounds across three games. He also suited up for the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2022, averaging 2.4 points and 0.6 rebounds per game.
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Off the court, Cole is riding the momentum of his latest album, “The Fall-Off,” released in February 2026. He is set to embark on a sweeping 73-show tour beginning July 11 in his home state of North Carolina.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rapper J. Cole to play basketball in China ahead of world tour
Source: “AOL Sports”
