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J. Cole recalls six-point stint with Scarborough Shooting Stars during Toronto concert
Grammy‑winning rapper J. Cole performed at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena on Monday, where he repeatedly referenced his brief basketball career with the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s Scarborough Shooting Stars. He told the crowd he scored six points for the team in 2022, noting that the experience gave him “a chance to live here for the first time” and expressing pride in Toronto’s cultural identity.
Cole also joked about his later appearance for the Nanjing Monkey Kings of the Chinese Basketball Association, a single eight‑minute game in which he recorded zero points, one rebound and one assist before returning to the United States due to visa delays. The Shooting Stars are co‑owned by Nicholas Carino, a founding member of Drake’s OVO brand. Cole announced that the Toronto show is part of his Fall‑Off World Tour, with the next stop slated for Vancouver.
He reflected on his past collaborations and the cooling of his relationship with Drake after withdrawing from a rap feud in 2024, but the focus of the evening remained his personal connection to the city and the brief basketball chapter that resonated with fans.
Entities
Jermaine Lamarr 'J. Cole' Cole · Nicholas Carino · Scarborough Shooting Stars · Scotiabank Arena · Toronto
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 5 SOURCES] He performed at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Monday and discussed his basketball stint. 1059theregion.com · battlefordsnow.com · chatnewstoday.ca · lethbridgenewsnow.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] He played one CBA game for the Nanjing Monkey Kings, logging eight minutes, zero points, one rebound and one assist. 1059theregion.com · battlefordsnow.com · chatnewstoday.ca · lethbridgenewsnow.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Cole announced his next concert on the Fall‑Off World Tour will be in Vancouver. 1059theregion.com · battlefordsnow.com · chatnewstoday.ca · lethbridgenewsnow.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] Cole signed with the Scarborough Shooting Stars in 2022 and made five appearances for the team. 1059theregion.com · battlefordsnow.com · chatnewstoday.ca · lethbridgenewsnow.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] J. Cole scored six points for the Scarborough Shooting Stars in 2022. 1059theregion.com · battlefordsnow.com · chatnewstoday.ca · lethbridgenewsnow.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The Scarborough Shooting Stars are co‑owned by Nicholas Carino, a founding member of Drake’s OVO brand. 1059theregion.com · battlefordsnow.com · chatnewstoday.ca · lethbridgenewsnow.com · www.winnipegfreepress.com