Overview

• Wembanyama began a 10-day retreat at the Shaolin Temple in Henan province, shaving his head and wearing monk robes to practice meditation and martial arts.
• Temple officials confirm his sessions are closed to the public, underscoring a deliberate emphasis on discipline and mind-body harmony.
• The spiritual seclusion follows a cultural tour that included stops at the Great Wall and Beijing’s Temple of Heaven.
• Photos and videos shared on Weibo by the NBA’s China account and Chinese outlets have driven widespread social media engagement.
• He intends to use the retreat to support recovery from March shoulder surgery for deep vein thrombosis ahead of the 2025-26 NBA season.