CNN
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French 7’3″ NBA star Victor Wenbagnama may just have unlocked his new position: Shaolin Monk.
Wenbanyama, who finished early last season due to a rare blood clot in his right shoulder, appeared to be looking for spiritual peace and strength in the off-season at Shorin Temple in central China.
The widely circulated images showed the San Antonio Spurs Center sitting thinly in front of a small Buddha statue in the room that Abbott typically uses to receive guests.
China’s state media reports confirmed Monday that he was indeed in the temple.
Images that CNN cannot track to its original sources have been reposted by multiple Chinese state media and official NBA accounts on social media in China.
The NBA said on its official Weibo page on Monday that “according to reports,” Wembanyama had shaved his head and started a 10-day retreat at Shaolin Temple.
In another video of Douyin, the Chinese version of Tiktok, a bystander spotted the towering basketball player in the temple.
Deep in the forest area of Henan Province in central China, the 1,500-year-old monastery is known for its Zen Buddhism and Chinese martial arts of kung fu.
Retreat in the temple focuses on discipline, meditation and inner harmony, and aims to help you disconnect from real-world distractions.
Wenbanyama, 21-Year-Old – 2024-25 NBA All-Star and 2023-24 Rookie of the Year went on to have a tough season.
He has been out since February after being diagnosed with a rare deep vein thrombosis, and a few weeks later the Spurs were officially eliminated from the playoffs.
Wenbanyama seemed to want to be modest in his journey in the monastery.
The French have not posted anything about it on social media yet. On Monday, Shorin Temple told CNN “We are not aware of this.”
However, the state-owned exit in Henan Province, where the temple is located, is reportedly reported by the temple people that “Wengbanyama is currently at Xiaolin Temple, but related issues are not convenient for public access.”
Just before the spiritual tour, the French basketball player had a few fun days in Beijing. Locals have gone shopping, playing basketball, strolling around the park and visiting the Great Wall, as shown in social media footage.
The San Antonio Spurs shared the video on Wenbanyama’s Instagram on Friday when they visited Beijing’s Great Wall of China.
“It’s Victor Wenbanyama. I’m living in China on the Great Wall itself, having a great time. It’s crazy,” he said.
Shaolin Temples often attract well-known figures. Our well-known YouTuber Ishowspeed visited the same temple in March, trained with Kung Fu Master, and generated millions of views on his social media accounts.
