Victor Wembanyama is currently in China, and it’s not just a vacation.
The San Antonio Spurs star is undertaking what is anticipated to be a 10-day stay at the Shaolin Temple in Zhengzhou, China. This temple invites visitors to engage in studies of Chan meditation, Shaolin kung fu, traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and more.
The NBA China Office verified Wembanyama’s presence at the temple, with several Chinese media outlets confirming his stay. “Focus on your training!” read some of the social media updates from the NBA’s Weibo account, which also disclosed plans for the 10-day duration.
Nevertheless, insights about his trip were being shared across various social media platforms.
A widely circulated photo shows Wembanyama with a shaved head—something he didn’t have upon arriving in China—and dressed in a robe reminiscent of other monks. One of the images features the 7-foot-4 center seated in a Chinese-style chair in front of several Buddha statues.
Not surprisingly, early in the trip, he also enjoyed some sightseeing.
“Victor Wembanyama is having an incredible time at the Great Wall of China. It’s insane!” he noted. Videos shared on Instagram feature glimpses of his adventures, as seen from his Spurs account, among others.
Wembanyama is anticipated to return to the United States in the coming weeks and may join the Spurs delegation for the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas next month. Like many teams, the Spurs have numerous players on their roster, including those participating in summer league events.
The 21-year-old Frenchman led the NBA in shot-blocks during the regular season. The Spurs are hopeful that he will be ready for the next season, while the French national team is eager for him to represent his country in this summer’s European Championship.
Last season, Wembanyama was named the league’s Rookie of the Year and is expected to be a strong contender for Defensive Player of the Year this season. He successfully attempted 403 three-pointers and blocked 176 shots, unprecedented numbers in NBA history. He averaged 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, and 3.7 assists until DVT was detected.
The only other player in NBA history to finish a season averaging over those figures was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 1975-76 season.
___
This report was contributed by Futing of the Associated Press in Washington.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Source: apnews.com