Victor Wembanyama is tapping into his inner monk.
As part of an offseason excursion to China, the 7-foot-4 Spurs center is taking part in a 10-day retreat at the 1,500-year-old Shaolin Temple.
Photos of Wembanyama, 21, with a newly shaved head circulated on social media this week, and the NBA’s China office confirmed that the Frenchman is at the Buddhist temple.
According to Spurs reporter Dusty Garza, Wemby is undergoing a “journey of inner discipline, focus and mind-body harmony.”
Wembanyama is readying for his third NBA season after he was diagnosed with season-ending blood clots in his right shoulder in February.
He enjoyed a terrific sophomore season until that point, earning an All-Star nod by averaging 24.3 points and 11 rebounds per game.
But besides his dazzling play on the court, Wembanyama has endeared himself to fans through his quirky and sometimes nerdy persona.
The 21-year-old is a proud bookworm — a fan of science fiction, to be specific — and he’s also a chess lover who played with fans at Washington Square Park after San Antonio took on the Knicks and Nets in late December.
But the foray into Buddhist monkhood is certainly Wembanyama’s most notable off-court endeavor yet.
Fans on social media had varying reactions to the news.
“This is the separation right here,” said one user on X. “MVP otw.”
“We need to start calling him Zenbanyama,” wrote another.
Others were more skeptical about how useful the retreat would truly be, and a few couldn’t help but make cracks about Aaron Rodgers, who took a four-day darkness retreat in 2023.
“Y’all hated when Aaron Rodgers did this,” said one user, with another posting: “Is he turning into Aaron Rodgers?”
The Spurs have yet to make a playoff appearance since drafting Wembanyama, but the franchise appears to be trending toward contention after making a deal for star point guard De’Aaron Fox at the trade deadline.
When San Antonio does crack into the postseason, perhaps Wembanyama’s newfound spiritual awakening will prove helpful.
