Less than 48 hours after AS Sale Guard Terrell Stoglin described Cole’s presence in the Basketball Africa League as “disrespectful,” J. Cole has ended his contract with the Rwanda Patriots.
Cole’s presence in the Basketball Africa League was seen as a positive due to the attention and commercial value that came with it, but as we will eventually find out, not everyone was pleased with the move.
Terrell Stoglin told ESPN, Cole’s presence in the BAL is sending a wrong message and that his role in the Patriots should have been given to someone more deserving.
“I live in a basketball world. I don’t live in a fan world. I know a lot of guys that had their careers stopped by COVID and they’re still home working out and training for an opportunity like this,” Stoglin said. “For a guy who has so much money and has another career to just come here and average, like, one point a game and still get glorified is very disrespectful to the game. It’s disrespectful to the ones who sacrificed their whole lives for this.
He added: “The positive side of it is: it brings a lot of attention, and, I guess, money. I don’t really pay attention to that type of stuff. I’m more [concerned that] he took someone’s job that deserved it.”
It’s unclear if J. Cole’s decision to leave the Basketball Africa League was spurred by Stoglin’s comments, but sources tell ESPN’s Marc J. Spears that Cole had completed his contractual obligation to the Basketball Africa League and has departed from Rwanda due to a “family obligation.”
Jermaine played 3 games for the Rwanda Patriots, during which he managed five points, three assists and five rebounds in total.
The 36-year old can now go back to enjoying the success of his sixth album, The Off-Season. The LP debuted at no. 1 on the Billboard 200, and is currently the highest selling rap album of 2021.
