Victor Wembanyama, the towering French NBA star, recently made headlines with a surprise visit to the renowned Shaolin Temple in central China. Wembanyama certainly testifies to that—he’s an eye-popping 7 feet 3 inches. His unscheduled visit to the 1,500-year-old monastery caught many off guard.
Wembanyama’s first couple of days in Beijing were an enjoyable and eye-opening experience. After that, he toured the famous Shaolin temple, which is famous around the world as a training ground for Zen Buddhism and kung fu. The temple is located in Henan province. It has for centuries drawn practitioners, students, and pilgrims alike deeply devoted to the martial arts and spiritual cultivation. This trip is especially significant, of course, because it comes just weeks after Wembanyama missed the majority of the NBA playoffs due to recent health issues.
Just earlier this year, Wembanyama faced potentially life-threatening health circumstances. He experienced a rare blood clot in his right shoulder from deep vein thrombosis. These ongoing issues prompted him to shut down the 2023-24 season prematurely. Even during this uncertain time, his team, the San Antonio Spurs, made it to the playoffs, officially eliminating themselves from contention some weeks after his diagnosis. Regardless of the disappointment, Wembanyama still secured victory by claiming 2023-24 Rookie of the Year honors. Now he’s preparing to make his return as an NBA All-Star in the 2024-25 campaign.
An image circulating on social media shows Wembanyama with a freshly shaven head, sitting contemplatively in front of small Buddha statues inside a room typically reserved for abbots to receive guests. This image has gotten fans and followers alike buzzing, wanting to know what he saw and did while visiting.
Funnily enough, US YouTuber IShowSpeed had visited the very same temple back in March. During his stay, he trained with a kung fu master and generated millions of views on social media, highlighting the temple’s appeal to those seeking cultural and spiritual enrichment.
Wembanyama hasn’t posted anything from his visit on social media. This silence has led to much speculation about his motives and what he experienced during this time of contemplation.
The Shaolin Temple returned The China Plus inquiry on whether any arrangements had been made for Wembanyama’s visit but asserted, “We do not know about this.” This comment deepens the intrigue surrounding his visit. Family and friends reported that he wanted a more peaceful life out of the celebrity glare.
“It’s Victor Wembanyama. Life in China on the Great Wall itself, having an amazing time. It’s crazy.” – Victor Wembanyama
