J. Cole is opening up about his brief stint playing professional basketball in China, and why it ended almost as soon as it began.
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Cole suited up for the Nanjing Monkey Kings with plans to appear in multiple games. Instead, he logged just eight minutes in a single outing before everything came to a halt.
The reason came down to paperwork, he revealed.
Cole said visa issues slowed the process more than expected, forcing him to wait in Hong Kong for clearance to play in mainland China. By the time everything played out, the window had closed and he returned to the United States.
Still, there are no regrets.
Cole thanked the team, the league, and his teammates for the opportunity. He admitted the shots didn't fall in his limited time on the court, but joked that with a few more games, things might have looked different.
And even in just eight minutes, he felt it. Cole joked his knees felt like he played 40.
Beyond basketball, the experience stuck with him in other ways. He praised the culture, the people, and the overall environment during his time overseas.
More importantly, he's not closing the door. If his body holds up, Cole said he'd be open to returning for another run after his tour.
Short stint or not, it clearly left an impression.
