Kevin Garnett expected a standard basketball workout when he met Victor Wembanyama. Instead, he found the Spurs star performing agility drills on a football field. Garnett recently shared the surprising details of their private meeting.

During an episode of the KG Certified podcast, Garnett shared an untold story about meeting Wembanyama during the 2025 offseason.

The most defining takeaway from their entire meeting changed how the Hall of Famer viewed the young star. Garnett summed up his thoughts perfectly, "I like that he's controlled chaos, but he's very smart, very high IQ, and that's what I took from it." 

As Garnett recalled the moment, he said, "So when I pull up man, he chillin', and I'm like I ain't never met Wemby in my life, I don't know if he know anything about me or what he knows or what the narrative is.”

He was surprised by the calm behavior of the young player.

Garnett then pointed out that Victor Wembanyama thinks carefully before answering any questions. He noted that "But when I sat down with him, man, he was super smart, super intel, he doesn't answer anything fast, he thinks about everything that you're saying, and then it came to a point where we was talking basketball.” 

Wembanyama's success stems from a focused mental approach rather than just natural talent.

Victor Wembanyama’s Offseason Mindset Shows Why NBA Legends Respect Him

Garnett is not the only former player who feels this way about the rising star. By seeking guidance from legends like Hakeem Olajuwon, he shows great respect for the game. 

Garnett also learned that he went to visit monks for reasons "totally other than basketball," which helped the legend finally recognize what he was building.

The Shaolin monk story tells us about the mental preparation Wemby was aiming for. In the summer, he went to the Shaolin Temple in China for a physical and mental upgrade. The routine there he followed was Kung fu training, meditation, breathing work, and forest runs. 

Waking up before sunrise was also a part of his daily life. The schedule was mas made to achieve mental discipline and control.

During the 2025-26 season, Wembanyama delivered impressive performances. For example, he scored a 38-point, 16-rebound, and 5-block performance against the Pistons. 

He followed that with a 39-point game against the Boston Celtics and had brilliant playoff performances against the Thunder. These games show the physical chaos Wembanyama managed by mental control.

What do you think about this unique approach to offseason training? Read more at Air Jordan Chronicles! 

Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Koushik Biswas