J. Cole just got a little closer to making his hoop dreams come true. The Detroit Pistons have reached out to Cole after Master P revealed that Dreamville rapper wanted to transition to the NBA.
Last night, the Detroit Pistons tagged Cole in a Twitter, writing "we see you out here. You said they only got 12 slots on the Pistons." .@JColeNC we see you out here. You said they only got 12 slots on the Pistons. Hit us up for that tryout. This is for all the dreamers @bleacherreport #Dreamville https://t.co/6K24xaI28b pic.twitter.com/GYuG5LvqDE
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) August 4, 2020
The offer for Cole to "Hit us up for that tryout" comes days after Master P revealed to TMZ that he spoke to Cole directly about making the move from rap to the NBA. P famously made the transition himself during the 1998 and 1999 pre-seasons. The veteran baller and rapper claims that Cole is hoping to be the next rapper to make the jump.
"When I talked to J. Cole, he was like 'You know, big dog you did it. What do you think I would have to do to make it happen?,'" Master P explained. "I said to get one of these NBA jerseys, it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be a lot of hate, it's gonna be a lot of people not believing in you but you know J. Cole – he got the right size, he in the gym!"
Cole insinuated he was pursuing the NBA last week when the rapper released a commercial for his new Puma basketball sneaker, the RS-Dreamer. In the 30-second clip, Cole is shown training while Master P narrates.
Furthermore, in a recent open letter published for The Players' Tribune, “The Audacity,” Cole explained how basketball has always come second to rap. He revealed that he gave up the chance to play professionally to focus on his equally "delusional" dream of being one of the greatest rappers ever.
Now, after achieving his musical dreams, it appears J. Cole is ready to take a shot at the NBA. The question is: can he actually do it? Continue reading below for more on the situation.
What are the requirements to be in the NBA?
While there is no education requirement to turn pro, you must be at least 19 years old to sign with an NBA team (which is fine for Cole, as he's 35).
Most players attempt to get into the league by entering the NBA Draft. This can be done by writing a letter to the NBA, expressing a desire to be selected in the Draft. You will then be prompted to fill out the subsequent application forms. Players not taken in the Draft can still sign with an NBA team as an undrafted free agent. If a player has already graduated college — prior to the calendar year of the Draft — they are considered an NBA free agent, eligible to sign with any team.
Players can also try out for the G League — the NBA's official minor league basketball organization — although it is rare for such an athlete to then make an NBA roster.
What is J. Cole's basketball history?
J. Cole played high school basketball at Terry Sanford in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He then had a chance to be a walk-on player (an athlete who becomes part of a team without being recruited or given a scholarship beforehand) at St. John’s University, a Division I men's basketball program, but he never showed up, ultimately deciding to pursue a career in music.
Is it actually possible for J. Cole to be in the NBA?
The short answer is yes. If a team feels J. Cole has the talent to join the roster, they can sign the rapper. Regardless, that leaves us with the question: Is Cole good enough to be in the NBA? The Detroit Pistons seem to think so.
While we wait for more to unfold, watch some clips below of J. Cole putting in work in the gym.
