Watch J. Cole Play His First Game in the Basketball Africa League

Just six days after signing a deal with the Basketball Africa League’s Rwanda’s Patriots B.B.C., J. Cole officially made his professional basketball debut.

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Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

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Just six days after signing a three-to-six game contract with the Basketball Africa League’s Rwanda’s Patriots B.B.C., J. Cole officially made his professional basketball debut on Sunday against Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers.

You can stream the game live now here. Fans can also catch the action on ESPN News and ESPN+. 

Rwanda Patriots Basketball Club to Face Nigeria’s Rivers Hoopers in First BAL Game today (10:00 a.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. CAT) catch it on ESPN+ https://t.co/XadMfqA4fg https://t.co/VvP5jgiyEw The NBA App 🥶🌎🏀 pic.twitter.com/4HtzJSV8qU

— Dreamville (@Dreamville) May 16, 2021

It didn’t take long for the 36-year-old rapper to score his first career points. A few minutes after checking into the game, Cole got his first bucket as a professional basketball player off a put-back layup in transition.

J. Cole the professional basketball player. 🏀 #ColeWorld pic.twitter.com/0CPXunoMnZ

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) May 16, 2021

The put back. Cole’s first score 💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/5VYNedyb4Y

— Eric Diep (@E_Diep) May 16, 2021

Jermaine Cole in action for #Rwanda Patriots 🏀 pic.twitter.com/loJAJvmzDl

— Navjosh (@Navjosh) May 16, 2021

J. Cole with his first bucket in the Basketball Africa League 👏 pic.twitter.com/DtparQKu8q

— Def Pen Hoops (@DefPenHoops) May 16, 2021

Cole got on the board again in the second quarter, scoring his third point off a technical free throw.

Another J. Cole DIME 😎 @JColeNC
(via @Phil_Lewis_) pic.twitter.com/hgUnnUd989

— Overtime (@overtime) May 16, 2021

On Friday (May 14), the Basketball Africa League’s official Instagram account shared a video of the Fayetteville native participating in a scrimmage with his teammates against the River Hoopers, a Nigerian team.

@PatriotsBBC head coach Alan Major yesterday praised J Cole’s basketball talent. Here he’s warming up for #theBAL opener against the @RiversHoopers pic.twitter.com/0mDLmRrUxB

— Júlio Chitunda (@JChitunda) May 16, 2021

J. Cole dropped some 🔥🔥 today and some buckets yesterday in his scrimmage with the @PatriotsBBC!

They take on River Hoopers in the season opener on Sunday at 10am ET/2pm GMT
(via @theBAL) pic.twitter.com/z8kqQWXbTH

— Andscape (@andscape) May 14, 2021

Cole’s professional basketball debut arrives just two days after the release of his sixth studio album, The Off-Season. During Sunday’s game, PoiZon Ivy The DJ made sure to capitalize accordingly, playing Cole’s latest project throughout the arena while he was on the court.

J. Cole warming up to his own music. A flex. pic.twitter.com/gBVR0GXiFS

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) May 16, 2021

.@JColeNC in his pro debut 👏 pic.twitter.com/RwHLvuKxAH

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 16, 2021

Stream The Off-Season now on all major platforms. 

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