When the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Joan Beringer with the No. 17 overall pick in June, the move raised eyebrows-not because of his talent, but because of how little we actually knew about him. A towering 18-year-old from France who only picked up a basketball in 2021?
That’s not your typical first-round résumé. But what Beringer lacked in experience, he made up for in raw potential: a mobile, athletic 7-footer with instincts as a shot blocker and the motor to run the floor.
Still, with Rudy Gobert anchoring the middle for a contending Wolves team, it was fair to assume Beringer would be more of a long-term project than an immediate contributor.
That assumption didn’t last long.
For the first 40 games of the season, Beringer was mostly a footnote-logging garbage-time minutes and suiting up for the G League. But opportunity knocked when Gobert was suspended for a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, and head coach Chris Finch turned to his rookie.
What followed was a statement performance: 13 points, five boards, two assists, and a steal in 30 minutes. Not bad for your first real NBA action-especially against a team featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The next game, Beringer saw just six minutes. But then came Sunday’s matchup against the Spurs, where the Timberwolves' frontcourt depth was tested again.
Gobert was out with an injury, and Naz Reid exited mid-game. Once again, Beringer answered the call.
He posted 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks-and this time, Finch trusted him enough to close the game.
Let’s pause for a second and take stock of what this 18-year-old has done in his first two meaningful NBA games:
- 11.5 points per game
- 6.5 rebounds per game
- 2.5 assists per game
- A team-best +19.5 plus-minus
- 84.6% true shooting
And those numbers came against Giannis and Victor Wembanyama. That’s not just impressive-it’s eye-opening.
Beringer is ahead of schedule. Way ahead.
His presence is already making a real impact on one of the best teams in the league, and if you’re the rest of the Western Conference, that should get your attention. Minnesota may have walked away with one of the biggest steals of the draft.
What’s most encouraging is how Beringer has looked on both ends of the floor. Offense was considered the weaker part of his game coming into the league, but he’s been efficient, active, and smart with his positioning.
He’s not forcing things-he’s finishing plays, making the right reads, and showing great hands in traffic. His hustle pops off the screen.
Defensively, he’s been even better. Beringer isn’t just a rim protector-he’s a switchable rim protector.
That’s a rare combination, and it’s already translating. Opponents are shooting just 44.5% against him within six feet of the basket.
For context, that’s elite territory. He’s still learning the nuances of one-on-one defense and needs to cut down on fouls, but for a rookie with barely any high-level experience, he’s been remarkably composed.
The Wolves have struggled all season when Gobert is off the floor. Their defense drops off a cliff-15.3 points per 100 possessions worse without him, the steepest on/off defensive swing in the league.
But with Beringer on the court, Minnesota’s defensive rating sits at 112.8-markedly better than their 123.8 rating in non-Gobert minutes. That’s not a coincidence.
Beringer is helping to plug one of the team’s most glaring holes.
And while Gobert is still playing at a high level at age 33, the Wolves now have a clear succession plan. Beringer isn’t just the future-he’s already starting to feel like the present.
It’s early, and there’s still plenty of development ahead. But what we’ve seen so far suggests that Minnesota didn’t just draft a project-they may have landed a foundational piece. The kind of player who can grow into a defensive anchor, rim-running threat, and maybe even more.
The Timberwolves took a swing on upside. And if these early flashes are any indication, they might have hit a home run.