Victor Wembanyama isn’t spending his summer like most NBA stars. Instead of hitting the gym or taking vacations to tropical destinations, the San Antonio Spurs phenom took a spiritual break and went to a Shaolin Temple in China. After weeks of speculation, Wembanyama has finally opened up about the journey, and what he revealed drew an unexpected joke from NFL great Tom Brady.
Victor Wembanyama Reflects on Buddhist Retreat and Shaolin Training
While most NBA stars spend their offseason working out or vacationing, Wembanyama opted for a 10-day spiritual retreat in Dengfeng, China. He trained with monks at the Shaolin Temple, which is known for its strict discipline and intense martial arts practices.
Wembanyama finally opened up about the unusual trip during an appearance on a live edition of LeBron James’ talk show, The Shop: Uninterrupted, on Friday, at the Fanatics Fest in New York City.
“Shaving my head is the first thing we did,” the French star said about the experience. “It’s about Buddhism. I’m pretty sure I’m Buddhist now? They made me say something in Chinese. I’m not sure what it was.”
Wemby on his experience at the Shaolin Temple:
“[Shaving my head] is the first thing we did. It’s about Buddhism. I’m pretty sure I’m Buddhist now? They made me say something in Chinese. I’m not sure what it was.”
Tom Brady: “You didn’t sign anything, did you?” pic.twitter.com/bveNgMDctu
— Josh Paredes (@Josh810) June 21, 2025
Veteran NFL quarterback Brady, who was on the show alongside him, laughed and said, “You didn’t sign anything, did you?” The moment went viral. While the exchange was lighthearted, it gave fans a glimpse into Wembanyama’s offbeat approach as he recovers from a significant shoulder injury.
Wembanyama Focused on Making a Strong Comeback in the 2025–26 NBA Season
The Spurs star’s visit to the retreat comes just months after his season was cut short. A blood clot in his right shoulder forced him to sit out the final stretch of the 2024-25 regular season just after the All-Star break. Despite that, his impact in 46 games was massive.
He averaged 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.8 blocks, 3.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, numbers rarely seen from a second-year player. Wembanyama is an elite scorer with exceptional ball handling, passing vision, and perimeter defense, making him a matchup nightmare. His retreat to China could have possibly strengthened both his mental and physical skills.
Wembanyama’s time at the Shaolin Temple, based in Dengfeng, China, included spiritual study as well as intense physical challenges aimed at expanding mobility and strength. “My goal going there was putting my body through things that it’s not used to doing and allowing my range of movement and strength,” the Spurs star told the New York Times.
