J. Cole Leaves Basketball Africa League
J. Cole’s basketball career has come to an end for now.
ESPN’s The Undefeated reports that The Off-Season rapper has completed his contractual obligations with the Rwanda Patriots BBC in the inaugural Basketball Africa League and has left Rwanda due to a “family obligation.”
Source confirms rapper J. Cole of the Rwanda Patriots BBC has completed his contractual obligation to the Basketball Africa League and has departed from Rwanda due to a “family obligation,” a source said. J. Cole had five points, three assists and five rebounds in three games. pic.twitter.com/RXQsXMN8DX
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) May 26, 2021
The 36-year-old made his debut with the Patriots on May 16. He had five points, three assists, and five rebounds in 45 minutes of three preliminary games. He was expected to play between three and six games with the team.
Cole’s stint in the league didn’t come without controversy. Morocco AS Sale guard Terrell Stoglin said Cole’s presence on the team was “disrespectful” as he was taking a spot from someone more deserving.
“For a guy who has so much money and has another career to just come here and average, like, one point a game and still get glorified is very disrespectful to the game,” said Stoglin. “It’s disrespectful to the ones who sacrificed their whole lives for this. The positive side of it is: it brings a lot of attention, and, I guess, money. I don’t really pay attention to that type of stuff. I’m more [concerned that] he took someone’s job that deserved it.”
Upon leaving the league, Cole shared some parting Puma gifts with his teammates and coaches.
J. Cole gifts his Rwanda teammates new Pumas pic.twitter.com/WmD4h28AX3
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) May 26, 2021