Victor Wembanyama underwent intense Kung Fu training at a Shaolin temple in China, enhancing his mental focus, body control, and overall game.
San Antonio Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama has been cleared to return to the court after dealing with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder. And it looks like he might be better than ever, thanks to an eventful and unconventional offseason.
Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama
MIN: 33.2
PTS: 24.26 (54.11%)
REB: 10.98
As: 3.65
ST: 1.13
BL: 3.83
TO: 3.24
GM: 46
In recent months, Wembanyama traveled extensively—including a visit to a Shaolin temple in Zhengzhou, China, last month. The historic temple welcomes visitors who want to study Chan meditation, Shaolin Kung Fu, traditional Chinese medicine, and more.
Speaking to Maxime Aubin of L'Equipe, Wemby shared that he spent time studying both kung fu and Buddhism, though he clarified that he does not identify as Buddhist.
"We were initiated there to the life of a warrior monk, which combines Buddhism and intensive kung fu practice," he said. "It was very hard. We discovered movements that we had never done in our lives. It was more than 1,000 kicks to do per day, jumps, balance exercises, and stretching.
"We used muscles that we rarely used and which were quickly overloaded," he added. "I had some of the biggest aches and pains of my life."
After his intense training in China, Wembanyama took a vacation in Japan. But don't expect this to be a one-time occurrence.
Those close to the 21-year-old are quickly learning about his thirst for pushing boundaries—both physically and mentally. According to ESPN's Michael C. Wright, Wembanyama specifically chose the Shaolin training to test his limits and gain deeper self-awareness.
Per ESPN, Wemby came away from that training believing it did him some good.
Along with improved mental focus, Wembanyama believes the kung fu practice helped him better understand body positioning and range of motion—skills that could give him an edge on the basketball court.
Before being sidelined in February, Wembanyama was putting up remarkable numbers: 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, and 3.7 assists per game.
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