J. Cole Signs with CBA's Nanjing Monkey Kings

Grammy-winning rapper J. Cole has signed a contract to play professional basketball for the Nanjing Monkey Kings of the Chinese Basketball Association, marking his third foray into organized hoops at age 41. The announcement, reported by ESPN on April 2, 2026, fulfills a commitment Cole made to the team last year and comes as he prepares for a world tour promoting his latest album, "The Fall Off," released in February.

Cole, a 6-foot-3 guard-forward from North Carolina, first pursued basketball seriously in high school before prioritizing his music career. He has long expressed a desire to test himself at the professional level, a passion that persisted alongside his rise to fame with multiple platinum albums and Grammy awards. In a recent interview on the "Talk with Flee" podcast, Cole described the move as an effort to "scratch a last itch," adding, "Could I train and be able to go play professional? ... This might be my last shot." He acknowledged the physical challenges, noting he is "not in the best of shape because of the album," but plans to "show up and play a couple of games" while having fun.

This opportunity builds on Cole's prior professional experiences. In 2021, he...