J. Cole Signs with Nanjing Monkey Kings in CBA

Rapper J. Cole signed a professional contract with the Nanjing Monkey Kings of the Chinese Basketball Association, Shams Charania reports. The 41-year-old had planned to suit up in a few 2025 games and now joins the CBA after brief stops in the Basketball Africa League and the Canadian Elite Basketball League. Nanjing sits 11-21 with ten games remaining and fields former NBA players like Tacko Fall and T.J. Leaf. Merlin sees the move as part basketball experiment and part global marketing bolt of lightning. Cole’s box scores were modest but he showed three point touch in Canada, hitting 4 of 8 from deep. Expect a limited on court role that boosts the Monkey Kings’ profile, brings fans, and creates a few headline moments more than playoff-changing production.