Victor Wembanyama Visits Shaolin Temple in China

Wembanyama Begins Spiritual Retreat at Shaolin Temple

French basketball prodigy at 7'3″ towers over Shaolin Temple in central China Victor Wembanyama's visit to the iconic Shaolin Temple in Henan province has drawn widespread attention and disbelief onlineetroit top stack Includes three files from Associated Press bureaus and names exporter China bishops China has approved two more bishops named by the Vatican in a step toward giving them a formal role in the two countries' relations. The Spurs' center, with his head shaved, made photos sitting meditatively alone in front of the statues of Buddha that were put in a guest room ordinarily reserved for abbots. He was among the group that visited during the off-season, possibly having wanted to work on his game after a tough ending to his season because of a rare blood clot in his right shoulder.

10 Day spiritual journey through nature and tradition
Wembanyama has spent 10 days in retreat at the 1,500-year-old monastery, which is known for its practice of Zen Buddhism and instruction in kung fu, according to reports. The temple in the forested mountains of central China offers retreats to help cultivators concentrate, discipline and clarify their minds. A bystander video from the scene also showed the NBA star meandering around the temple premises, offering further confirmation of his presence.

The 21-year-old was named the 2023-24 NBA Rookie of the Year and he was selected for the 2024-25 NBA All-Star team, but he has not played since February when he was diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis. After the Spurs got knocked out of the playoffs, Wembanyama appears to have sought out peace and personal recovery with his retreat.

Obscure in China, but a Serious Subject Online
In the lead-up to his visit to the monastery, Wembanyama was also seen partaking in sightseeing activities in Beijing, which included shopping and taking walks in its parks, playing basketball, and taking a trip to the Great Wall. The Spurs shared a video on social media of him marveling at the historic site that day. The Shaolin Temple, meanwhile, has not confirmed specific information about his stay for privacy reasons, local officials have said.

The monastery for years has been a go-to retreat for celebrities in search of mindfulness and martial arts. Now Wembanyama's visit belongs on that list as well, generating headlines on disparate platforms and curiosity about his path from NBA stardom to spiritual introspection.