Rapper J. Cole Is Headed To China To Play Basketball For Nanjing Monkey Kings

Rapper J. Cole has signed with a Chinese basketball team called the Nanjing Monkey Kings. 

Cole originally played basketball at Terry Sanford High School in his hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina. This is his third time playing in a professional basketball league. He played in Rwanda in 2021 and Canada in 2022. 

Cole made his debut in Rwanda just two days after his sixth studio album, The Off-Season, was released. The album’s cover featured a basketball hoop in flames.

On Feb. 6, 2026, he released his seventh studio album, The Fall-Off. The album had been in production since 2016 and was reportedly expanded in 2024 after Cole publicly withdrew from the Kendrick Lamar–Drake feud. Many music critics, including Anthony Fantano, have called The Fall-Off Cole’s best work. 

The album was marketed as Cole’s final album. However, few expected such a sudden and drastic career change. 

Cole announced his tour for the album, The Fall-Off Tour, after the album’s release. He is expected to tour from July through December. 

The Chinese Basketball Association generally starts in December and plays until April. Despite this, it’s unclear if training or other factors could impact Cole’s ability to complete his tour. 

The Monkey Kings are currently 11-22 in the 2025-26 season. They are the No. 17 team in the standings. 

The Monkey Kings were founded in 2007. They originally played in Jiangsu, before moving to Nanjing. Former NBA players Willie Cauley-Stein and Tacko Fall have played for them before. They currently have former Brooklyn Nets point guard Jaylen Hands on their roster. 

Although by Cole’s own admission, “I could ball but never good enough to be a Laker,” he’s found himself in another professional basketball league.

Cole regularly references NBA players in his songs. Some of the most iconic lines include references to Shane Battier, Ja Morant and Kobe Bryant.