Fresh off releasing new album The Off-Season, J. Cole got to live out his hoop dreams through playing for Rwanda's Patriots Basketball Club this weekend — where he matched up against former Toronto Raptor Ben Uzoh.
For Cole's debut in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) on Sunday (May 16), the artist and athlete born Jermaine Cole finished with three points, three rebounds and two assists in just under 18 minutes of action against Uzoh and Nigeria's Rivers Hoopers.
While Uzoh became the first player to score in the the inaugural BAL game, Cole and the Patriots won the contest by a score of 83-60.
You can take in Cole's highlights, along with a newly released video for "a m a r i" below.
Speaking about the matchup with Complex, Uzoh said that he and his Rivers Hoopers teammates had done some scouting of Cole's skills ahead of time.
"I seen a couple of clips when he was out there in New York and playing in some of the pickup runs with some of those NBA guys," Uzoh shared. "I said, 'Man, he could kinda shoot a little bit, so we wanna keep an honest contest when he has the ball in his hand.' I'm not sure how his fast twitch is like and all that, but he has a basketball background... he was definitely on our scouting report."
Uzoh is remembered by Toronto fans for signing a 10-day contract with the Raptors in March 2012, ahead of notching an unlikely triple-double weeks later that would mark the first by a Raptors player in 11 years.
His feat would contribute to a Raptors win that would ultimately cost the team a chance at drafting star point guard, recording artist (and k.d. lang favourite) Damian Lillard. Soon after, the Raptors would make a trade for Kyle Lowry, and the rest is history.
For Cole's debut in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) on Sunday (May 16), the artist and athlete born Jermaine Cole finished with three points, three rebounds and two assists in just under 18 minutes of action against Uzoh and Nigeria's Rivers Hoopers.
While Uzoh became the first player to score in the the inaugural BAL game, Cole and the Patriots won the contest by a score of 83-60.
You can take in Cole's highlights, along with a newly released video for "a m a r i" below.
Speaking about the matchup with Complex, Uzoh said that he and his Rivers Hoopers teammates had done some scouting of Cole's skills ahead of time.
"I seen a couple of clips when he was out there in New York and playing in some of the pickup runs with some of those NBA guys," Uzoh shared. "I said, 'Man, he could kinda shoot a little bit, so we wanna keep an honest contest when he has the ball in his hand.' I'm not sure how his fast twitch is like and all that, but he has a basketball background... he was definitely on our scouting report."
Uzoh is remembered by Toronto fans for signing a 10-day contract with the Raptors in March 2012, ahead of notching an unlikely triple-double weeks later that would mark the first by a Raptors player in 11 years.
His feat would contribute to a Raptors win that would ultimately cost the team a chance at drafting star point guard, recording artist (and k.d. lang favourite) Damian Lillard. Soon after, the Raptors would make a trade for Kyle Lowry, and the rest is history.
And there it is. J. Cole's first points in the Basketball Africa League pic.twitter.com/LPMfK75hNX
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 16, 2021
J. Cole hits the technical free throw for his 3rd point pic.twitter.com/KMnABI5YtS
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 16, 2021
J Cole with the assist to the big man. His stat line: 3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists pic.twitter.com/DZ20Xooa3W
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 16, 2021
J Cole's team Patriots BC picks up the win 83 to 60.
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) May 16, 2021
His final stat line: 3 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists pic.twitter.com/QiJ1YUJUTy
