J. Cole has officially made his debut in the Chinese Basketball Association, suiting up for the Nanjing Monkey Kings.
The rapper, who was announced as a new addition to the team earlier this month, checked into Saturday’s (April 11) matchup against the Guangzhou Loong Lions. Cole logged eight minutes on the court, finishing with one rebound and one assist, though his team came up short in a 95-81 loss.
According to ESPN, Cole committed to playing a “few” games for the Monkey Kings. The team has previously rostered former NBA players like Willie Cauley-Stein, Antonio Blakeney, and Tacko Fall.
Ahead of his debut, Cole spoke to local media in Nanjing about the opportunity. “Last summer, they came to me,” he shared, acknowledging his age before adding, “They give me an opportunity to come play on the court. It’s a blessing to me.”
Team general manager Zhen Wang also explained the reasoning behind bringing him on board, noting that Cole’s role as a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets could help open doors for local players to train and compete in the U.S.
Cole’s connection to basketball runs deep. He played varsity in high school in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and has since returned to the game in recent years. In 2021, he suited up for the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League, averaging 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds. The following year, he joined the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League, where he averaged 2.4 points, along with 0.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.
