When the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Joan Beringer with the 17th overall pick back in June, the move raised eyebrows - not because of a lack of talent, but because of how raw he was coming into the league. Beringer only started playing organized basketball in 2021, and he just turned 19 last month. That’s a steep learning curve for anyone, let alone a teenager trying to earn minutes on a team with real playoff aspirations.
So far, Beringer’s NBA experience has been limited to the fringes. He’s logged just 37 minutes across nine games, all in garbage time. He hasn’t seen the floor since November 15 against Dallas, and even in Sunday’s 13-point win over the Spurs - a game that opened the door for bench guys like Bones Hyland, Leonard Miller, and Johnny Juzang - Beringer remained on the sidelines.
That’s telling.
Head coach Chris Finch has already hinted that a G League stint is likely, and at this point, it feels more like a matter of when, not if. It’s not a knock on Beringer - it’s just the reality of where he’s at developmentally. The Wolves are trying to win now, and carving out meaningful NBA minutes for a 19-year-old big who’s still learning the game is a tall order.
That said, a trip to Iowa to play with the Wolves’ G League affiliate could be exactly what Beringer needs.
There’s understandable frustration among some fans who want to see what the rookie can do, especially given Minnesota’s occasional struggles when Rudy Gobert is off the floor. The non-Gobert minutes have been shaky at times, and when you’ve got a 6-foot-11 athletic project with upside sitting on the bench, it’s tempting to throw him into the fire and see what happens.
But development isn’t always linear, and it definitely isn’t instant.
Right now, Beringer needs reps - real ones. Not shootarounds, not warmups, not mop-up minutes in blowouts.
He needs to be on the floor in competitive situations, making reads, adjusting to the speed of the game, and building confidence. The G League offers that.
It’s a place where mistakes are teaching tools, not liabilities, and where playing time is earned but also more available.
And let’s be clear: there’s no shame in a first-rounder spending time in the G League. It’s become a proven path for raw prospects to sharpen their skills.
Just look around the league. Khaman Maluach, drafted seven spots ahead of Beringer by the Suns, has already logged time in the G League.
It’s part of the process now - especially for players with high ceilings and limited experience.
The Wolves are in a bit of a balancing act. They’re trying to develop young talent while also pushing for a deep postseason run.
That’s not easy, and it means some players - like Beringer - won’t get the immediate runway fans might hope for. But that doesn’t mean he’s being forgotten.
It just means the team is taking a long-term view.
Minnesota has a back-to-back set against the Pelicans this week, and if either game gets out of hand, there might be an opportunity for Beringer to get back on the court. But after that, the schedule tightens up. And with the rotation likely to shorten against tougher competition, a G League assignment feels imminent.
In the long run, that’s probably the best thing for Beringer. He’s not going to grow by watching from the bench.
He needs to play, to make mistakes, to learn. And if he does that in Iowa, it could pay dividends down the line - for both him and the Timberwolves.