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Alsharq Tribune-M.Essam
American rapper J. Cole drew a packed crowd in China on Saturday night, not for a concert, but for his debut in the Chinese Basketball Association.
The Grammy-winning artist made his first appearance for the Nanjing Monkey Kings following his recent signing, as Nanjing fell 95-81 to the Guangzhou Loong Lions in a regular-season game.
The 41-year-old, who stands 1.88 meters tall and has long pursued basketball ambitions, played eight minutes off the bench in his CBA debut. He missed all five of his three-point attempts, finishing with one rebound and one assist.
Despite failing to score, Cole sparked a roar from the home crowd when he checked in with two minutes remaining in the second quarter.
With the appearance, Cole surpassed Stephon Marbury - who retired at 40 - as the oldest overseas player in CBA history.
Nanjing general manager Wang Zhen said the rapper had expressed his desire to play professionally during a meeting in the United States last July.
"He wants to chase that dream, and it aligns with our philosophy," Wang said. "His presence will help elevate the CBA's global profile."
The club added that Cole holds a stake in the Charlotte Hornets, raising the prospect of future cooperation, including opportunities for Chinese players to train or compete in the United States and the introduction of more international talent to the CBA league.
It marks Cole's third stint in professional basketball, after previous appearances in the Basketball Africa League in 2021 and the Canadian Elite Basketball League in 2022.
Wang said Cole is likely to remain with the team into next season, and suggested his ties with NBA stars such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry could, in the future, help attract more high-profile talent to Nanjing.
