Image: Carlos Osorio
At one point J. Cole was a Scarborough Shooting Star…But now Cole has signed a contract to play for the Nanjing Monkey Kings in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), marking his third professional basketball stint after appearances in Rwanda and Canada.
Cole expressed excitement about this opportunity on social media, saying it represents a significant chance to fulfill his long-time basketball aspirations.
J. Cole has signed a contract to play in the Chinese Basketball Association, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/htlJQL9Zxf
— Outta Pocket with RGIII (@OuttaPocketRG3) April 2, 2026
Cole’s basketball journey includes prior experience with the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League (2021) and the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (2022), where he played limited games with modest statistics.
In various interviews, Cole has highlighted a sense of urgency about his age and basketball aspirations, suggesting this could be his final shot at a professional career.














