Joan Beringer’s NBA debut may have come under unusual circumstances, but the 19-year-old big man made the most of his opportunity-and gave Timberwolves fans a glimpse of what could be down the road. With Rudy Gobert suspended and Anthony Edwards sidelined, the 17th overall pick in the 2025 draft stepped into meaningful minutes on Tuesday and delivered a solid performance: 13 points, five rebounds in 30 minutes, and a whole lot of promise for a 6-foot-11 rookie still adjusting to the league’s speed and physicality.
But as quickly as the door opened, it began to close again.
When Gobert returned to the lineup on Friday, Beringer’s role shrank drastically. Edwards remained out, but the rotation tightened.
Minnesota dropped a close one to the Houston Rockets, 108-103, and Beringer saw just over six minutes of floor time-two short stints at the end of the first and third quarters. He didn’t score, missed his only shot, and grabbed a single rebound.
That’s the reality of life as a rookie on a deep, competitive roster. Chris Finch has leaned on a consistent nine-man rotation for most of the season, and with Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid all healthy and firmly entrenched, carving out minutes for a developmental big like Beringer is a challenge. Even with Edwards out, Finch didn’t deviate much from his core group.
And help could be on the way from elsewhere. Terrence Shannon Jr., who’s missed 11 games with a foot injury, is nearing a return.
He’s more of a natural scorer than Beringer, and with the bench contributing just 27 points on Friday-25 of those from Naz Reid-there’s a clear need for offensive punch in the second unit. If Shannon is healthy, he could leapfrog Beringer in the pecking order.
Still, the Timberwolves aren’t giving up on Beringer’s development. Quite the opposite. Head coach Chris Finch made it clear before Friday’s game that the team is thinking long-term with the young Frenchman.
“He’s probably not done going back to Iowa,” Finch said, referring to the Timberwolves’ G League affiliate.
That’s not a demotion-it’s a development plan. Beringer already spent time with the Iowa Wolves in December, logging seven games and getting the kind of extended minutes he simply can’t get right now in the NBA.
With three established bigs ahead of him who rarely miss games, meaningful NBA minutes are going to be hard to come by. The G League offers a chance to stay sharp, build confidence, and continue adjusting to the North American game.
The Timberwolves clearly like what they have in Beringer. He’s long, fluid, and shows flashes of two-way potential.
But at 19, raw talent needs reps. And with Minnesota pushing for playoff positioning, development minutes aren’t easy to find.
So for now, the plan looks like a blend of patience and opportunity. When the rotation opens up-whether due to injury, rest, or matchup needs-Beringer will be ready. Until then, Iowa might be the best place for him to grow.