San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama has shaved his head and begun a 10-day closed-door spiritual retreat at China's famed Shaolin Temple, according to reports from the Global Times and NBA China.
Sources familiar with the matter said Wembanyama, who has shown a strong interest in Shaolin culture, requested a master to perform the traditional head-shaving ceremony. The 21-year-old French basketball phenom is now meditating and retreating within the temple. His subsequent travel plans have reportedly been postponed, and his accompanying staff have departed the site.
A fan account, @EnmingHuang on X, shared updates about Wembanyama's retreat at the Shaolin Temple.
Shaolin Temple confirms his presence on June 9 with local media but declines to disclose more details.
Before his retreat, Wembanyama visited several iconic landmarks in Beijing, including the Temple of Heaven and the Badaling section of the Great Wall. NBA China has also confirmed his presence at the temple.
NBA's official account on China's Weibo confirms Wembanyama's retreat at the Shaolin Temple.
Born on January 4, 2004, in Le Chesnay, France, Victor Wembanyama is a 7-foot-3 forward and center widely regarded as one of the most promising talents in professional basketball. He currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA.
Reporter | Chen Siyuan
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
