US rapper J Cole scored three points as he made his debut for his Rwandan side Patriots in the opening game of the inaugural Basketball Africa League (BAL). "I talked to him in the locker room - I said, ‘I am so proud of you,’ because he was very frustrated with himself," Patriots coach Alan Major said. "Our guys have embraced him, he has embraced them - and the beautiful thing about him is just wants to be a basketball player. He is not interested in being an entertainer in this event, he just wants to be a basketball player." Cole had achieved a high standard at school but had never played basketball professionally before this match.

Source: BBC May 17, 2021 11:48 UTC