US rapper J. Cole (Jermaine Lamarr Cole) is a brilliant man of note. Musically, he has 12 Grammy nominations and a win under his belt. He’s also known for being a philanthropist and activist. He is reportedly signing a deal to play in the BasketBall Africa League as reported by ESPN. Despite his latest album’s name being off-season, Cole is very much in season basketball-wise.
Sources: American rap star J. Cole is signing a deal in the Basketball Africa League with Rwanda’s Patriots B.B.C. J. Cole will play 3-to-6 games, the first of which on Sunday vs. Nigeria.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 10, 2021
Cole has had a love for basketball for quite some time. Cole said in an interview with Sports Illustrated that sport is “[his] life in just another form.” He’s incorporated that form of his life quite intricately into his music. He’s even broken down the journey of the two (being music and sport) in a piece he wrote himself for The Players’ Tribune.
Per Sports Illustrated, Cole arrived in Rwanda just two days ago and is currently quarantining to play in the league of 12-teams. He’ll be playing with Rwanda’s Patriots B.B.C.
As the Basketball African League or BAL, begins its season this weekend, the partnership between The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the NBA makes history as the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside of the USA, (reports Sports Illustrated).
Considering this historic collaboration with the talents of J. Cole, and it’s surely a combination for all Africans to be proud of.
Complex reported that the first of Cole’s games will be on Sunday night vs Nigeria. It will commence the first of the three-to-six games Cole will play in.
Go get your Dreamville Mr Cole!
Picture: Twitter