Odds Released on J. Cole Participating in Pistons Tryout; Attempt to Make NBA Roster

The NBA action inside the bubble is in full swing, but there is news outside the bubble as well. One of the most fun stories from outside Orlando comes from rapper J. Cole, who all of a sudden appears close to at least trying out for the Detroit Pistons.

Rappers have tried their hand at basketball before, and it will be exciting to see if J Cole becomes the next to do so.

Odds on J. Cole’s Potential NBA Future

Odds taken Aug. 6th

How Did This Come About?

Cole has always been known as one of the better basketball players on the rap scene, but it was a Puma ad that got everybody talking. The 30-second spot, called “The Dreamer”, shows Cole bent over and catching his breath in the foreground as he gets up shots in the background.  Those images, paired with the narration “I know you ain’t about to try to do what I think you’re trying to do”, certainly raised eyebrows and got people talking.

If reading the tea leaves wasn’t enough, Master P, the last rapper to make a run at basketball, told TMZ that Cole was seriously training for an NBA career. Of course, once it got to this point, it didn’t take long for the Pistons to reach out on social media.

There is Precedent

This wouldn’t be the first time a rapper tried making the leap to the NBA. It was the aforementioned Master P who, in the late 90’s, spent time with both the Hornets and Raptors during the NBA preseason.

He never got to the regular season, and it obviously had the feeling of a gimmick, but P was still a baller. In 2004, playing with the ABA’s Las Vegas Rattlers, he posted 24 points per game.

If Cole can ball, there’s definitely precedent that suggests he could get a chance in the preseason. However, as Master P showed, you can be a pretty good player and still not be NBA-quality.

Can Cole Make It?

It’s difficult to evaluate Cole’s chances when there isn’t much film out there of him playing. He does, however, have a reputation for being a great player for a non-pro, and there is some evidence of that. In a pickup game with guys like Trae Young, JR Smith, and Carmelo Anthony, Cole appeared to hold his own.

The video is obviously cut up into highlights, but it still shows that Cole has some tools, including a jumper, that are impressive. Playing well in a game that includes so many NBA guys is a positive for Cole’s chances.

However, it unfortunately seems that there are more negatives than positives. While apparently a nice player, Cole is already 35, an age where most players are firmly on the downslope of their career, if not already retired.

Additionally, while the scrimmage tape looks nice, the speed and physicality of a regular season NBA game is turned up significantly. It’s unlikely he has the absolutely elite athleticism it takes to play in the league. At 6’2″, the size becomes another big question mark for Cole.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see a team, especially one that has been down, bring Cole in for a few preseason spots. It would sell tickets and garner some publicity for a team. A place like Detroit that gets little to no national attention would be one of the prime candidates for some preseason action, but for Cole, a quick stint is all that feels likely.