Victor Wembanyama Begins Shaolin Vassa Journey, Trains Along The Great Wall of China

Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs star, is spending his NBA offseason on a 10-day spiritual and physical retreat at China's Shaolin Temple in Henan Province. He is embracing the ancient Buddhist tradition of Vassa, a sacred practice focused on stillness, meditation, and inner cleansing, typically observed by monks during the rainy season to deepen discipline and spiritual growth.

Images showing Wembanyama bald and dressed in traditional monk's gray robes have circulated widely on Chinese social media. The NBA's official Weibo account confirmed his participation, describing it as deepening his spiritual journey. He has entered closed-door training involving Chan meditation, Shaolin Kung Fu, and traditional Chinese healing techniques, deliberately staying out of public view.

This retreat follows an NBA season cut short for Wembanyama in February due to deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder, despite a historic campaign that earned him his first All-Star selection. He was averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 3.8 blocks per game before the injury, comparable only to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975-76, and still led the league in blocks.

The retreat is framed as more than just physical healing; it aims to refine his mind and soul. Although he cannot be ordained as a monk, Wembanyama is fully immersing himself in the Shaolin experience, including early morning meditations, kung fu drills, and long-distance runs. The Spurs shared footage of him jogging and soaking in the culture at the Great Wall of China.