J. Cole Practices With Nanjing Monkey Kings After Signing W/ CBA Team
J. Cole Signs W/ Chinese Hoops Team ... No 'Fall-Off' Here!!!
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It sure sounds like it, but this is no April Fools' Day joke -- J. Cole signed with a Chinese Basketball Association team on Wednesday ... and wasted no time getting to work.
The award-winning rapper inked a deal with the Nanjing Monkey Kings, according to ESPN's Shams Charania ... and dropped his first video on Doyin, a Chinese short video-sharing platform, saying he was "excited" to be in the vicinity.
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He was also caught on video at the Monkey Kings' practice ... doing drills and going through pre-game warm-ups, while fans showed him plenty of love -- high-fiving J. Cole as he made his way into the arena.
The 41-year-old hit a couple of jumpers before the game, showcasing his hoop skills ... though he reportedly did not get any minutes. You could say it was a "Sideline Story" for him.
FYI, he's not the only American on the squad ... former UNC Tar Heel Brady Manek and Clippers draftee Jaylen Hands are also on the Monkey Kings.
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J. Cole has a basketball history outside of being one of the best lyricists in the game. He played ball at Terry Sanford High School in North Carolina and tried out as a walk-on at his alma mater, St. John's University.
He also suited up in the 2012 NBA All-Star Weekend Celebrity Game, played professionally for the Basketball Africa League team, the Patriots Basketball Club, and joined the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
Now, it's on to China -- and he’s already getting plenty of love for his game.
