A Symbolic Snip to End a Skid
In the quiet locker room after a difficult road trip, the buzz of a hair clipper was the sound of a reset. Teammate Keldon Johnson, shears in hand, shaved the head of Victor Wembanyama on Wednesday night.
This simple act held deeper meaning. It marked the end of a frustrating two-game losing streak for the San Antonio Spurs. It followed a crushing collapse against Minnesota and a tough loss to Oklahoma City.
Wembanyama himself explained the move was a deliberate mental shift. “I felt like we had to lock in real quick because we had been losing a little bit,” he said. He needed a fresh start and decided to let it all go, starting with his hair.
A Night of Adversity and Dominance
The new, clean-shaven look debuted in a home game against the Milwaukee Bucks the next night. The game started with a moment of high anxiety for the Spurs and their fans. Just minutes into the first quarter, Wembanyama and Giannis Antetokounmpo collided, knees to knees.
The 7-foot-4 French superstar went down in pain, recalling his season-long battle with knee injuries. He had previously hyperextended his left knee on New Year’s Eve, causing him to miss two games. The arena held its breath as he hobbled to the locker room.
Remarkably, he returned to start the second quarter, brushing off the scare. “It was just like a knee to knee… thankfully a very benign thing,” he said after the game. He then put on a show. He nailed back-to-back three-pointers. He blocked shots and controlled the glass.
He was the best player on the floor. He scored 22 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in just three quarters of play, leading the Spurs to a dominant 119-101 victory.
The MVP Conversation and a New Mindset
This performance has once again thrust Wembanyama into the heart of the NBA’s Most Valuable Player discussion. With reigning MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets potentially missing significant time with a knee injury, many analysts see a new favorite emerging in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In a twist of fate, Wembanyama’s last loss was to that same OKC team just days before shaving his head. For Wembanyama, the main obstacle is not talent, but his own health. His availability is now a central question for all end-of-season awards due to the league’s 65-game minimum rule.
As of mid-January, multiple outlets analyzing the MVP race consider him a top-tier contender but note his eligibility is hanging in the balance. An analyst for The Athletic even stated that if Wembanyama plays enough games, he will “run away with” the Defensive Player of the Year award and is clearly on the path to an MVP.
Can “Monk Mode” Lead to MVP?
The social media post that sparked this story suggests Wembanyama has entered “Monk Mode.” This term implies a solitary, disciplined, and singular focus on his craft.
This is not new territory for the young star, who has previously trained with Shaolin monks in China and is known for his thoughtful approach to the game. The head-shaving, a literal shedding of the past, is a powerful visual for this mental commitment.
The league is watching to see if this renewed focus will be the key to keeping him on the court for the required 65 games. His talent is undeniable, and when he plays, he is a force that can dominate the game on both ends.
If he can maintain his health and this intense new focus, Victor Wembanyama may not just be coming for the face of the league. He may be preparing to claim its highest individual honor.