Last season, Victor Wembanyama broke out as the best player in the NBA. Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander both have compelling cases, but Wemby’s ability to break the game on both ends of the floor hands him the cake.
And to think that it was only his third NBA season!
In the summer of 2025, Wembanyama was dealing with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder, a season cut short, and limited team success. He opted to spend that summer in the mountains of China, training with Shaolin monks.
Photos and videos were released of Wembanyama training with the monks. However, it was clear that he was focused on getting his mind right, not necessarily his body.
Last season, with newfound mental strength, Wembanyama became the best player in the NBA. This summer, he’s focusing on bringing his physical abilities up to speed.
Victor Wembanyama to Focus on ‘Testing His Limits’
Last season, Wembanyama averaged only 29.2 minutes per game, the lowest mark of his career. A big reason for that was the addition of Luke Kornet. Finally, the Spurs had a capable backup behind their superstar. Plus, they found themselves in garbage time a lot, allowing their starters to get extra rest.
Another aspect, though, was his stamina. There were times late in games where Wemby put the team on his back, sure. But there were plenty of other games where he looked gassed early, even in the playoffs.
With his mental game honed last summer, he’s looking to get his body up to the same standard.
“Victor Wembanyama has already resumed physical training in France, accompanied by Guillaume Alquier, his physical trainer,” reported L’Équipe’s Maxime Aubin. “Work under the banner of ‘experimentation’ as he wants to continue developing his body and testing his limits. The Spurs’ center is then expected to join the French team as planned during the second qualifying window for the 2027 World Cup in August.”
Wembanyama has long made flexibility and injury prevention a focal point of his training. It is expected that those areas of focus will remain, although he could be adding strength and balance training, as well.
Last season, when Wembanyama put his head down and drove to the basket, he seemed to hit the hardwood more often than he should. While most of his shots still went in, fans don’t want to see their best player hit the deck unnecessarily, and keeping him upright and in a rebounding position should be a priority.
Kornet proved himself a capable backup, even after a lackluster playoff performance, so the Spurs won’t need Wemby to play 40 minutes night in and night out. Still, it’s good to know that it’s an option.
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