At 21 years old, Victor Wembanyama is already being viewed as a once-in-a-generation basketball talent. His rare blend of size, skill, athleticism and mindset set him apart. Add to that his unique off-season choices ,like immersing himself in monk training abroad , and you’re looking at a player positioning himself not just to excel, but to redefine what “star” means in the NBA era.

Physical & Athletic Profile

Wembanyama stands around 7’3″–7’4″ and carries a wingspan and frame that few have ever had. But what makes him special is how he moves like a guard despite that size.

• He dribbles, changes direction, and operates on the perimeter and in the post.
• On defense, his length and mobility allow him to block shots, protect the rim, and switch onto smaller, quicker players.
• He blends roles that traditionally were separate: big man, wing, defender, shooter.

Two-Way Superstar Potential

Becoming the best player in the league means dominating on both ends. Wembanyama’s upside suggests he can:

• Offense: score in multiple ways (outside shot, mid-range, post, transition), create for others, handle himself in pick-and-roll or isolation.
• Defense: protect the rim, alter shots, defend multiple positions, be a disruption for opponents. If he pulls both together consistently, he has the ingredients for MVP-level impact.

Mindset, Growth, and Unique Off-Season Choices

One of the most telling signs of his long-term potential is how he thinks about training and growth, not just the ‘get stronger, faster’ stuff, but the mindset piece. A key example: this off-season Wembanyama spent 10 days at the famed Shaolin Temple in China, immersing himself in monk-style training: shaving his head, wearing monk robes, practicing Shaolin Kung Fu, meditating, adapting to new demands. KSL+4ESPN.com+4Basketball Forever+4

He’s described the goal: "My goal going there was putting my body through things it's not used to doing and allowing my range of movement and strength. This was probably as very different as possible from what I’m used to doing." Basketball Forever He also joked: “I’m pretty sure I’m Buddhist now.” MySA+1

What does this mean for his game?

• Body & movement: Training with monks and doing kung-fu emphasizes flexibility, balance, agility, all critical for someone his size to avoid being a ‘giant who can’t move.’
• Mental discipline: Meditative practices, isolation, pushing into discomfort , these speak to his willingness to go beyond the usual athletic training.
• Uniqueness & adaptation: He’s not following the same path as everyone else; that difference could give him an edge.
• Recovery & health: Given he missed part of a season due to a health concern (deep-vein thrombosis in his shoulder) this off-season focus may be part of his long-term durability strategy. NBA+1

Skill Evolution & Unlocking Upside

Wembanyama is already showing glimpses of high-level skills:

• Shooting from range three pointer, mid-range which many traditional bigs don’t attempt.
• Handles and mobility: He can handle the ball, operate in space.
• Post game and inside finishing: He’s adding those layers. The monk training doesn’t replace basketball drills, but it augments his physical toolkit: better movement, footwork, body control. These are the “add-ons” that might allow him to not plateau but rise. The podcast/video content you referenced earlier, on skill diversification, mindset, spatial awareness, aligns well with this. Wembanyama isn’t relying solely on physical gifts; he’s developing skill, thought-process, adaptability.

The Modern NBA & Fit

The league today leans toward versatility, switch-defense, pace and space. Wembanyama is a perfect fit for that:

• He can defend 4s and 5s and even challenge wings due to his mobility.
• Offensively, he can stretch the floor, handle in transition, and make plays.
• His monk training suggests he values body control, which is essential for the modern style of movement heavy basketball. The podcast emphasizes how top players today aren’t just specialists; they are complete players. Wembanyama has the potential to be one of them.

Projecting “Best Player” Status: What It Will Take

For Wembanyama to ascend to the best player in the NBA, several pieces must align:

1. Health & durability: He must stay on the court consistently, avoid major setbacks.
2. Continued improvement: He can’t plateau. He must keep refining skills, adding dimensions, adapting.
3. Dominance on both ends: Offense and defense must be elite, impact measurable, game changing.
4. Team context & leadership: No star wins in isolation, system, teammates, coaching matter. His off-season training shows he’s thinking broadly about his craft, which helps.
5. Clutch & defining moments: Superstars make big plays when it counts , in playoffs, on national stage. Physical gifts + mindset + skills + opportunity = greatness.

Why This Monk Journey Amplifies His Case

The training with monks isn’t just a quirky story, it reinforces multiple threads:

• Shows a mindset of doing things outside the comfort zone. That’s how high ceilings become realized potential.
• It may improve his movement, flexibility, and body awareness, which is key for a 7 footer with guard skills.
• It builds a narrative of discipline, uniqueness, and inner-work. That psychological edge can matter in big game situations.
• It aligns with his goal of being more than just physically gifted , he wants to outwork, out-think, evolve. Thus this monk training becomes a symbol and tool for his greater trajectory.

Conclusion

Victor Wembanyama isn’t guaranteed to become the best player in the NBA, because nothing is. But everything points in that direction: physical uniqueness, skill set, modern era fit, mindset, and now a serious investment in his body and mind, his monk training in China.

If he stays healthy, keeps evolving, and channels this off court work into his on court performance, we could very well be witnessing the rise of the next all time great.

Written By Drew lee