J. Cole has inked a deal to play for the Scarborough Shooting Stars of the Canadian Elite Basketball League, Shams Charania for The Athletic and Stadium reports.
As Shams mentioned, it will be the second straight year Cole plays professional basketball. In May 2021, the North Carolina native signed with the Rwanda Patriots B.B.C. of the Basketball Africa League. He was only expected to play anywhere between three to six games.
Cole left the team that same month after just three games, scoring five points, grabbing five boards and dishing out three assists. It was initially reported that Cole needed to leave due to a “family obligation,” but it was later revealed that he had completed his contract.
Complex spoke with former NBA player Ben Uzoh, who guarded J. Cole during his brief BAL stint and described his skill level as being “right beneath” competing in the NBA and Olympics. Uzoh commended Cole for fulfilling his dream and “helping push the game on the continent with his buzz, clout, reputation, and who he is as an entertainer.”
Cole’s basketball aspirations are well-documented. In a July 2020 piece for The Players’ Tribune, The Off-Season rapper confessed that his desire to play basketball had returned, and he still wanted to check that goal off his career bucket list.
