By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama opened up on his experience during his visit at Shaolin Temple in China.
“It was a great experience,” Wembanyama said to The Athletic. “My goal going there was putting my body through things that it’s not used to doing and allowing my range of movement and strength. This was probably as very different as possible from what I’m used to doing.”
Wembanyama went through a 10-day retreat in a Shaolin Monastery located at Dengfeng, which is considered a very sacred spiritual place in China. Photos showed the French big man having completely shaved his head while living with the monks and being dressed with their traditional robes.
He also meditated a lot, practiced martial arts, and ate what the monks ate, which means strictly vegan meals.
“Kung fu. Everyday. It was like a vegan temple, monastery. … I was isolated,” Wembanyama added.
Wembanyama saw his second season in the NBA abruptly ending in February after he was diagonsed with deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder. Before he was ruled out for the remainder of the 2025-26, he was averaging 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 3.7 assists.
While the Spurs hope that Wembanyama will be cleared to play when the next season begins, it’s uncertain if the player will be able to join France for the 2025 EuroBasket. Les Bleus are expected to be without star center Rudy Gobert.