All-Star Spurs center Victor Wembanyama has been maximizing his summer.
The 7’4″ big man, whose 2024/25 sophomore season was cut short early by a blood clot issue, spent two weeks with monks at Shaolin Temple in China.
Reflecting on the stint during an appearance on “The Shop” with Lakers All-Star LeBron James, former seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and streamer Kai Cenat, Wembanyama spoke fondly of his time abroad, writes Larry Holder of The Athletic.
“It was a great experience,” Wembanyama said. “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.”
There’s more out of the Lone Star State:
The Mavericks control the top pick in this week’s impending draft, which it seems all but assured they will utilize on superstar Duke forward Cooper Flagg. The 6’8″ phenom’s longtime trainer, Matt MacKenzie, recently raved to Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News (subscriber link) of Flagg’s relentless drive and stunning aptitude. “You only had to tell him something once and he was immediately starting to apply it into drill work,” MacKenzie told Curtis, “and then I would watch his games and he would immediately start to try to apply it into his game. So there was just an incredibly steep learning curve. He was able to pick up on things quickly. It was very natural to him.”
The Rockets’ reported decision to trade Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the No. 10 pick in this year’s draft and five future second rounders for 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant is a clear sign that Houston is expediting its title timeline, posit Sam Amick and Doug Haller of The Athletic.
Following the Durant deal, Danielle Lerner of The Houston Chronicle has updated her tracker of Rockets player contracts. Lerner notes that she anticipates guard Fred VanVleet will pick up his $44.9MM player option for 2025/26 by its June 29 deadline, with most teams unable to offer him significant money.