Victor Wembanyama: World's tallest monk spotted at Shaolin Temple

Victor Wembanyama: World's tallest monk spotted at Shaolin Temple

7-foot-2 NBA star Victor Wembanyama of France may have discovered a new passion: the teachings of the Shaolin monks. After a difficult last season, which was due to one rare blood clots had to end prematurely in his right shoulder, Wembanyama sought spiritual peace and inner strength at the Shaolin Temple in central China.

Details of Wembanyama's stay at the Shaolin Temple

A widely circulated image shows the San Antonio Spurs player with a freshly shaved head, sitting thoughtfully in front of small Buddha statues in a room normally used by Abt to receive guests. Reports from Chinese state media confirmed on Monday that he is indeed at the temple.

The source of the image cannot be traced by CNN, but was published by several Chinese state media outlets as well as the official NBA social media account. The NBA stated on its official Weibo page, that “according to reports” Wembanyama shaved his head and began a 10-day retreat at the Shaolin Temple.

The 1,500 year old monastery

The monastery, located in the forested mountains of Henan Province in central China, is known for Zen Buddhism and the Chinese martial art Kung Fu. Temple retreats focus on discipline, meditation, and inner harmony and are designed to help you disconnect from the distractions of the real world.

The 21-year-old Wembanyama, who was named an NBA All-Star for the 2024-25 season and the 2023-24 Rookie of the Year, has had a challenging season. After his rare diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis in February, the Spurs were officially eliminated from the playoffs several weeks later.

A secret retreat

Wembanyama seems to want to remain hidden during his stay in the monastery. The Frenchman hasn't posted anything about it on social media yet. When contacted by CNN, the Shaolin Temple said it was not informed about his whereabouts. However, a state-run news agency in Henan Province learned from people at the temple that "Wembanyama is actually located in the Shaolin Temple, but relevant aspects are not publicly available."

Past in Beijing

Before his spiritual journey, the basketball player spent a few fun-filled days in Beijing, where he was spotted by locals shopping, playing basketball, walking in the park and even visiting the Great Wall. A video of the San Antonio Spurs that appeared on Friday Instagram shared shows Wembanyama visiting the Great Wall of China in Beijing.

"It's Victor Wembanyama. Life in China on the Great Wall is just amazing. It's crazy," he said.

Celebrities in the Shaolin Temple

The Shaolin Temple often attracts well-known personalities. In March, prominent US YouTuber IShowSpeed ​​visited the same temple, trained with a kung fu master and generated millions of views on his social media.