SI

Rapper J. Cole Makes Pro Basketball Debut in Basketball Africa League

Just days after releasing his album The Off-Season, J. Cole made his pro basketball debut in Rwanda.

Joseph Salvador

Just two days after dropping his highly anticipated album, The Off-Season, rapper J. Cole added professional basketball player to his resume on Sunday when he appeared in the Basketball Africa League for the Patriots Basketball Club in Rwanda. 

Cole, whose real name is Jermaine Cole, had always had aspirations of becoming a professional basketball player and the 36-year-old made that dream a reality and registered three points, three rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes of action. 

Although he didn't fill up the box score, former NBA center Kendrick Perkins had some fun at his own expense and compared his stat line to his own. 

"Those big Perk numbers," Perkins Tweeted. 

Cole scored his first points on a putback layup in the first quarter then nailed a technical free throw. He missed both of his field goal attempts in the second half. 

Throughout his career, Cole has always dropped nuggets here and there of his days as a basketball player at Sanford High School in North Carolina and every now and then drops a lyric or two about current NBA stars. 

In The Off-Season, Cole name dropped several of them, including Ja Morant and LeBron James while also sampling Damian Lillard.

Although Cole was a walk-on at St. John's, he never appeared in a Division I basketball game and instead focused on music. 

"Sports is where it started for me," Cole told Sports Illustrated in 2013. "It parallels my life. Rap is such a competitive thing. That's why I have to watch sports. I got to keep up. It's my life in just another form."

In the initial report of his signing with the club, it was reported that Cole would only appear between three and six games. This is the inaugural season of BAL and is partners with both FIBA and the NBA. 

More Extra Mustard: 

Published
Joseph Salvador
JOSEPH SALVADOR

Home/Basketball