By: Stephen Garner

Followers of J. Cole at the surface level as a rapper, or fans that know his story and rise are all well aware of what basketball means to him.

Throughout his career in the music industry, he has compiled a multitude of basketball-related references within his lyrics (and via project covers) that tie his passions together; both basketball and music.

The Fayetteville, North Carolina native has juggled the balance of wanting to pursue both since he fell in love with rap at the age of 13, as he penned in his detailed passage via The Players Tribune back on July 20th of 2020.

This shit was both hella challenging and mad fulfilling to write. Thank you @PlayersTribune for the platform. https://t.co/XGE47bqhGy

— J. Cole (@JColeNC) July 20, 2020

Overview

“That hoop dreaming had me tryna be the next Penny” J. Cole – Can’t Cry (The Come Up)

High-school: He was cut his freshman year, but tagged along as team manager. A year later, his sophomore year, he would get the same result and that would spark the necessary work ethic. He would go on to make the team his junior year, but rode the bench. His senior year, he would make the team and play an integral piece in a solid team. He would earn a starting spot by the season’s end through his hard work. 

College: At St John’s University, he missed the chance to try out his freshman year. His sophomore year, he made it to the final day of tryouts as one of the remaining 10. He would, however, forgo that opportunity to try out as a walk-on, in favor of realigning his focus and efforts with music. This decision was made when recollecting on what his overarching intent was with making the move from North Carolina to New York. He would decide to practice with the women’s basketball team while also playing in the intramural men’s leagues on campus.

NBA Celebrity All-Star: In 2012’s NBA Celebrity All-Star Game, he would show up and show out. Planting the seed, for those that did not know, that he could play and had some athleticism as well.

Open Gym Runs: Since the release of his third full-length studio album, 2014 Forest Hills Drive, Cole has made his rounds to open gym’s that included numerous former and present-day NBA players and stars, as well as with personal trainers.

As the successes in the music realm came to fruition, the flame of his first passion never died. Cole’s foresight and inner-belief that he can manifest these deepest desires has gone unwavered. 

Present Day

“If you aint aim too high, then you aimed too low.” J. Cole – January 28th (2014 Forest Hills Drive)

From his increasingly popular basketball shoe with Puma (RS-Dreamers) that you can see multiple variations of in any given NBA game, to conversations with Master P (in two separate pre-season stints, played for the Charlotte Hornets and Toronto Raptors) who’s the only rapper to make it to the NBA, and the many surfaced videos of him in the lab with trainers and NBA players, it’s clear what his intentions are.

He’s now earned an opportunity in the process of fulfilling his lifelong dream of making the NBA, via the inaugural season of the Basketball Africa League. Cole will be playing for the Rwanda Patriots B.B.C., as reported by The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears.

Rapper @JColeNC expected to play in the inaugural Basketball Africa League for the Rwanda Patriots B.B.C., sources confirm to @TheUndefeated. @theBAL https://t.co/rQ7cOXU8Vy. #nba

— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 10, 2021

His first mixtape, released back in 2008, was titled “The Come Up.” It served as a springboard in his ascension to the top of the rap game. 

This opportunity to play professionally in Africa for “3-to-6 games, the first of which on Sunday,” per The Athletics Shams Charania, could serve as the same opportunity that “The Come Up” did, only in alignment with his basketball endeavors.

This busy week also includes the release of his next album, titled “The Off-Season,” releasing Friday.

A man on a mission, where it goes remains to be seen. What is known is that he’s leaving no stone unturned in his ambition. The embodiment of a Dreamer.