Victor Wembanyama took an unconventional path in his recovery journey ahead of the 2025 NBA season—and it led him all the way to a Shaolin temple in China.
After being sidelined by deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the San Antonio Spurs’ rising star saw his momentum halted just as he was showing signs of becoming one of the league’s most versatile players. Many believed the 7-foot-3 phenom could have propelled the Spurs into playoff contention last season—if he had stayed healthy.
Now cleared to resume basketball activities, Wembanyama has reportedly been working on both his body and mind in Zhengzhou, China. According to NBA Insiders via ESPN, the 21-year-old spent time training with Shaolin monks in hopes of accelerating his recovery.
“Those close to the French phenom are quickly learning about his thirst for pushing boundaries physically and mentally. It’s precisely why he chose to train in China, according to sources, who said the 21-year-old wanted to put his body through a different method of training to learn more about himself. According to sources, Wembanyama came away from that training believing it did him some good.”
The same report added that Wembanyama saw real benefits beyond recovery.
“In addition to improved mental focus, Wembanyama believes some of the moves involved in kung fu training taught him more about how to achieve optimal body positioning through a better range of movement, which could prove beneficial on the court.”
His time with the monks could give Wemby the edge he needs—mentally and physically—as he looks to bounce back stronger than ever.
Victor Wembanyama on Potential Superteam Moves: “Breaking up your entire core for a single player rarely works”
In the midst of his rehab, Victor Wembanyama also addressed rumors swirling around potential blockbuster moves by the Spurs, including possible pursuits of Giannis Antetokounmpo or Kevin Durant.
While some fans have dreamed of a superteam in San Antonio, Wemby doesn’t sound interested in disrupting the team’s development.
“No, I don’t think so. Breaking up your entire core for a single player rarely works. And the Spurs are masters in the art of building teams without having to go out and get too many big players, or having to sacrifice the balance of the group,” he told Basketball Network.
With a fresh mindset and a clean bill of health, Wembanyama is expected to be ready for the 2025–26 season—assuming he clears all remaining medical hurdles before opening night.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
