At a pivotal stage of his young adulthood, J. Cole approached the crossroads of harsh reality. One question would define his career path and the steps he’d take along the way: ‘Do I put my heart into my music or pursue my dreams of reaching the NBA?’
It’s easy for an outsider looking at his money, fame and success to say ‘He obviously made the right choice,’ but choosing between your dreams and compromising on goals will always leave a person questioning their decision.
Basketball never truly left J. Cole, who’s oftentimes seen courtside at NBA games and hanging out with players. He even performed at the NBA All-Star game in 2019. Punchlines about iconic NBA moments are common in his verses and wordplay evoking basketball icons is a mainstay of his greatest hits.
Today, J. Cole achieved a dream that was formerly reserved for the most definitive stars of the basketball world and the legends who paved the path for them. Not only is he the cover athlete for a brand new ‘Dreamer Edition’ of NBA 2K23, but he’s going to be featured within the MyCareer storyline and on the soundtrack with other artists from his record label, Dreamville.
J. Cole reaching the cover of a 2K game proves that hoop dreams don’t die.
For the latest generation of basketball stars, becoming an NBA 2K cover athlete is a right of passage. The trend has grown increasingly meaningful for the players who grew up playing the game and dreaming of the day they’d grace its cover. For J. Cole, reaching the cover of an NBA 2K game is symbolic of his journey as an artist and individual.
“NBA 2K has long been a place to discover new musical talent through their game and continues to be a gold standard for showcasing all things basketball culture,” J. Cole said in a statement via NBA 2K. “It’s been an amazing journey to not only appear on a cover of this year’s game, but to be part of the MyCAREER storyline, soundtrack and bring the DREAMER brand into NBA 2K.”
This is the first time that a non-athlete has been on the cover of an NBA 2K title, and while he didn’t make it as a player, this selection is an indictment of his status as a transcendent figure. Though it wasn’t always this way — J. Cole walked a long and arduous road to the mountaintop.
2009’s ‘The Warm Up’ was Cole’s first project released under ‘Roc Nation,’ the iconic record label turned global entertainment brand founded by rap legend Jay Z. The mixtape effectively put Cole on the map…
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