Minnesota Timberwolves Rookie Watch - Joan Beringer
Sep 22, 2025
The last time the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted a 6’11” teenager in the first round, he turned into a Hall of Famer. Now, by no means is anyone saying that Joan Beringer is going to be the next Kevin Garnett, but if the Wolves can get half of “The Big Ticket’s” production out of the big man from France, they will be happy.
Just days after the start of the 2025-26 season tips off, Beringer will turn 19. Knowing that they drafted a kid who hadn’t touched a basketball until he was 14, Minnesota knew they were adding a project player to their roster with the 17th overall pick.
In addition to his height, Beringer brings a 7’4.5” wingspan on a 240-pound frame. With a very raw offensive game, the Timberwolves front office is banking on Beringer making an impact on the defensive end of the court, a role similar to fellow countryman, Rudy Gobert. Sitting behind Gobert and former Sixth Man of the Year, Naz Reid, Beringer and the Wolves have the opportunity to be patient as he learns the NBA game, without much pressure to perform immediately.
Although limited in his basketball experience, with only a couple of seasons playing for SIG Strasbourg in France and then Cedevita Olimpija in Slovenia, Beringer was able to put on an impressive North American debut during Summer League. Dropping 11 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 blocks in his first game, the Wolves and NBA fans got a glimpse of the teenager’s potential, finishing the summer season with 6.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks.
On a team that is built to win now, Beringer’s immediate role will be limited off the bench and will likely feature multiple trips to the G-League to polish his game. A stat line of 3-4 points, 2-3 rebounds, and a block or two in sporadic appearances is likely the best-case scenario for Beringer this season. But for a teenager who basically took up the game because his feet became too big for soccer cleats, a spot among the 570 best players in the world is certainly more than Beringer ever dreamed of five years ago.
