Rapper J. Cole has long been inspired by basketball, with Steph Curry significantly impacting his mindset.
Cole’s admiration for Curry’s dedication
Cole praised Curry on the “7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony” podcast, not just for his success, but for how he achieved it – through relentless work and self-improvement.
“I love basketball — it’s an even playing field,” Cole said. “Of course, you’re going to get athletically gifted people, but that’s why I love Steph so much/ Compared to the average NBA player — 6’6″, 6’7″, freak of nature — he doesn’t fit that bill. He’s more of a regular size in the league.”
Cole sees Curry as representing something deeper than basketball greatness. He’s proof of what’s possible when a player fully taps into their potential.
“I stand next to Steph and I’m like, ‘Damn, this dude my height,'” Cole added. “He’s not little, but he maxed out his ability. If I work harder than everybody else, I can max my abilities out, and then I got a fair shot.”
Cole’s own basketball pursuits
Cole has pursued basketball alongside his music career. His basketball involvement includes brief pro stints in Africa and Canada.
He has also made appearances in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and was featured on the cover of “NBA 2K23: Dreamer Edition.”
Competition against oneself
For Cole, competition, whether in rap or basketball, is ultimately internal.
“I just love the competition of it,” Cole acknowledged. “But more than a competition against somebody else, it’s really against yourself. It’s like a mastery or an ability, because I never mastered anything. But I know what it’s like to get better than I was yesterday, or a week ago, or a month ago, or a year ago.”
For Cole, self-improvement is what makes the game so valuable.
“That’s what I love about basketball,” Cole said. “I can measure my growth. I can see it. I can watch how bad I was or how regular I was, and how much better I’ve gotten in this one area. And I feel like I need that in my life.”
The same approach carries into his music.
“My music is the same way,” Cole explained. “My writing is the same way. My rap is the same passion — I want to push myself. Basketball gives me something measurable.”
He believes the sport is honest.
“If you put the work in, you can get there,” Cole added. “And if you don’t, it’s going to show.”