Global rap star J. Cole is taking another shot at professional basketball, signing a contract to play in China.
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The multi-Grammy-winning artist has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Nanjing Monkey Kings, according to ESPN.
The team competes in the Chinese Basketball Association, a league that has previously featured numerous former NBA players.
J. Cole Heads to China for Latest Basketball Venture
Details surrounding the contract, including its length and number of games, have not yet been disclosed.
This isn't Cole's first foray into professional basketball. In 2021, he suited up for the Rwanda Patriots in the Basketball Africa League, appearing in three games.
During that stint, the 41-year-old recorded five points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block.
He followed that up in 2022 with a short spell for the Scarborough Shooting Stars in the Canadian Elite Basketball League.
Across five games, Cole tallied 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal, with all four of his made field goals coming from beyond the arc.
Basketball has long been a part of Cole's life, dating back to his high school days in North Carolina, and he has consistently sought opportunities to pursue the sport alongside his music career.
Balancing Basketball With a Global Tour
Balancing both worlds, however, has proven challenging.
While playing for the Shooting Stars, Cole stepped away from the team after four games, announcing an indefinite leave to focus on his touring commitments.
He is set to embark on "The Fall-Off World Tour" between July 11 and December 12, 2026, a 73-show run spanning multiple continents.
The tour begins with two dates at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte on July 10 and 11, before moving across the United States and Canada.
It will then continue through Europe and Oceania between October and early December. The final stop is scheduled for Johannesburg, South Africa, at FNB Stadium on December 12.
The tour supports Cole's seventh studio album, The Fall Off, which dropped on February 6.
The project debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling an estimated 280,000 album-equivalent units in its first week.
The album's title reflects a full-circle moment in his career, nodding to his 2007 debut mixtape, The Come Up.
