Rapper J. Cole played in the first game of China’s Nanjing Monkey Kings, and the video of his CBA debut went viral.
Footage of J. Cole’s China Basketball Association debut spread across social media faster than anyone expected, with footage of the rapper checking in for the Nanjing Monkey Kings going viral.
The moment happened during the team’s game against the Guangzhou Long-Lions on Saturday, and the scene was replayed non-stop on the Internet.
J. Cole played 8 minutes, grabbed 1 rebound and dished out 1 assist before his team fell 95-81, but the loss didn’t matter because the real story was watching him actually do it.
The viral clips show Cole having his moment on the hardwood in front of thousands of Chinese fans.
Cole was announced as a member of the Monkey King back in early April, but seeing him actually step onto the professional field was different.
ESPN first reported on April 1 that Kerr committed to play a few games for the team, which previously had NBA veterans Willie Cauley-Stein, Antonio Blakeney and Taco Fall on its roster.
The Fayetteville rapper’s arrival in Nanjing has attracted widespread attention, with fans and media documenting his every move since landing.
Kerr’s connection to basketball runs deeper than most people realize.
He played on the varsity team in high school in North Carolina and has been serious about returning to the game in recent years.
In 2021, he played for the Rwanda Patriots of the African Basketball League, averaging 1.7 points and 1.7 rebounds per game.
The next year, he joined the Toronto Scarborough Meteors of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, averaging 2.4 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.
Before the game, Cole told the Nanjing media what this opportunity meant to him.
“Last summer, they came to me,” he explained, acknowledging that he was old but grateful for the opportunity. “They gave me the opportunity to play on the field. It was a blessing to me.”
Team general manager Wang Zhen revealed the big picture behind the signing of Cole, explaining that they hope Cole’s status as a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets will help their domestic players gain access to training and playing opportunities in the United States.
