J. Cole to make return to professional basketball

April 2, 2026

J. Cole attends the 2018 Verizon Slam Dunk Contest at Staples Center on February 17, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

With his album The Fall-Off now in fans’ possession, J. Cole is nurturing another one of his loves. ESPN’s Shams Charania has reported that Cole is making a return to basketball and will be playing for the Chinese Basketball Association.

“J. Cole has signed a contract to play in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Nanjing Monkey Kings,” he writes. “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.”

Footage of Cole warming up with the team has also been posted on social media.

Cole, who is minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, has been open about his desire to play for the NBA. His professional run includes a few games as a member of the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League in 2021 and with the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2022.

He’s set to go on tour in July in support of The Fall-Off.

Written by: vibeofnwa

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