On a night when the Minnesota Timberwolves were without two of their biggest stars, a 19-year-old rookie stepped into the spotlight - and didn’t blink.
With Anthony Edwards sidelined for foot maintenance and Rudy Gobert serving a one-game suspension after picking up his fifth flagrant foul of the season, the Wolves had to dig a little deeper into their bench for Tuesday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks. Enter Joan Beringer, a name Timberwolves fans might have seen in Summer League box scores or late-game garbage time, but not yet in a meaningful NBA moment. That changed in a big way.
Beringer didn’t just get his first real taste of rotation minutes - he made the most of them. In Minnesota’s dominant 139-106 win over Milwaukee, the rookie logged career-highs across the board: 29 minutes, 13 points, 5 rebounds (including 4 on the offensive glass), 2 assists, and a +30 plus-minus. Against a team led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, no less.
The Opportunity Opens
Chris Finch didn’t overcomplicate Beringer’s role heading into the game. “We just went through a few things in detail in shootaround, and just let him go,” Finch said postgame. “We didn’t want to overburden him, just wanted him to play on energy and instinct.”
That’s exactly what Beringer did - and it worked.
For a Timberwolves team that’s been remarkably healthy over the last few seasons, opportunities like this don’t come around often. The core trio of Edwards, Jaden McDaniels, and Gobert have each started 70+ games in each of the past three seasons. That kind of consistency has allowed Minnesota to keep its rotation tight and avoid dipping too far into its bench.
But when circumstances forced their hand on Tuesday, Beringer answered the call.
Defensive Tools on Full Display
Let’s start on the defensive end, where Beringer’s upside is already turning heads.
He committed four fouls - three of them while guarding Giannis one-on-one. That’s not a red flag; that’s a rookie going toe-to-toe with one of the most dominant players of this era.
And while Giannis is going to get his, Beringer didn’t look overwhelmed. He stayed grounded, kept his feet moving, and showed a willingness to battle.
More impressively, his help-side defense and mobility in drop coverage stood out. He rotated well, contested shots at the rim, and even showed he could switch onto the perimeter without getting burned. That kind of versatility is rare for a teenager, especially one who’s only been playing organized basketball for five years.
The Wolves even trusted him with some minutes guarding Kyle Kuzma - a clear sign the coaching staff sees real potential in Beringer as a switchable defender and rim protector. His length, foot speed, and instincts are all there. What he needs now is reps.
Back in the G League with the Iowa Wolves, Beringer flashed that same defensive promise. One standout sequence showed him sticking with a crafty scorer like Mark Sears through multiple fakes and still contesting the shot - the kind of patience and footwork that usually takes years to develop.
Offensive Role: Simple, Effective, and Built for Today’s Game
Offensively, Beringer isn’t trying to be something he’s not. He’s not spacing the floor or creating his own shot.
He’s a play-finisher - plain and simple. And that’s just fine.
He lives in the dunker spot, sets hard screens, and rolls with purpose. He’s got good hands, which help him catch lobs and finish through contact.
He runs the floor hard in transition and uses his long strides to beat opposing bigs down the court. That motor alone makes him valuable.
Four offensive rebounds in one game? That’s not an accident. That’s effort, timing, and a nose for the ball.
He’s not going to be a high-usage scorer, but he doesn’t need to be. His offensive blueprint is built around effort plays - second-chance opportunities, rim runs, and clean finishes.
As he develops, there’s potential for more: short-roll passing, dribble handoffs, maybe even a mid-range jumper. But right now, he’s doing exactly what the Wolves need from him.
What Comes Next?
The big question now: has Beringer done enough to carve out more minutes?
Minnesota’s frontcourt rotation isn’t set in stone. When Gobert is off the floor, the pairing of Naz Reid and Julius Randle has had its defensive struggles. That’s where Beringer could step in and provide a spark - especially if the Wolves want to shore up their rim protection and defensive versatility.
Finch has already experimented with the final rotation spot this season, toggling between Jaylen Clark, Bones Hyland, T.J. Shannon, and Rob Dillingham. There’s no reason Beringer can’t be part of that mix - particularly if he continues to bring this kind of energy and impact.
At just 19 years old, Beringer isn’t a finished product. But his performance against Milwaukee wasn’t just a nice story - it was a legitimate step forward. He showed he can hold his own in real NBA minutes, against real NBA talent, on the road, in a blowout win.
And for a Timberwolves team with championship aspirations, finding a young, cost-controlled big who can contribute meaningful minutes? That’s a win in every sense of the word.