There are a lot of reasons to be excited about the Minnesota Timberwolves next season. But one that is coming in under the radar is a potential breakout for big man Joan Beringer.
The 19th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft didn’t put up massive numbers during his rookie season with 3.9 points and 2.3 rebounds per game, but his averages were off the charts with 17.9 points and 10.5 rebounds per 36 minutes.
With the departures of Julius Randle and Naz Reid in offseason trades, it’s likely Beringer will capture a spot in the Timberwolves’ rotation to begin the year and could get 16 to 20 minutes a night. But president of basketball operations Tim Connelly hinted there may be something more, and it could make the Frenchman an ace up the Wolves’ sleeve as they head into next season.
“He’s got a long way to go, [but] he showed great flashes last year,” Connelly said during an appearance on The Jon Krawczynski show this week. “We think he can be a superhuman defender and guard. …But he’s got these unique physical tools that you see once every [10 to 15] years. A lot of guys can run, or they can run and jump, or they can jump and move laterally. He can do all three, and he’s just a sponge and he’s got the greatest mentor ever in Rudy [Gobert.]”
Joan Beringer’s drumbeat has been getting louder all offseason
Connelly’s statement is just one drumbeat during Beringer’s offseason. Earlier in the offseason, general manager Matt Lloyd told a story about how Beringer grabbed a rebound, changed the direction of his dribble twice, and dunked over two defenders on the other end of the court during a summer workout.
The most visible display came during the NBA Summer League. While Beringer was limited to just one game due to a back injury, he scored 18 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and had four blocks in 25 minutes in a win over the New Orleans Pelicans on July 9. He also showed improvement dribbling off the ball and flashed some of the skill set that made the Wolves try to trade up for him during the 2025 draft.
Joan Beringer’s breakout could be a massive win of the Timberwolves
Anyone who watched Beringer play last year knows there is an upside. But the bigger question is where he fits into the Timberwolves’ plans. The most obvious answer is that Beringer could serve as a backup to Gobert, and if he fills in, he has a big chance to help the Wolves improve while he’s off the court.
The good news here is that the bar is low. According to Cleaning The Glass, the Timberwolves' defense was 11.8 points per 100 possessions worse when Gobert was off the floor, and on/off swing that ranks in the 98th percentile.
Beringer can help solve this problem, and his athleticism could help him play some power forward.
The Wolves' current plan at power forward is unclear, but Beringer could help fill this void. While he has been considered more of a center, it’s worth noting that he’s still learning the game after he didn’t start playing until he was 14 or 15 years old, after growing out of his soccer cleats. As such, he has a ton of upside.
Beringer is mobile enough to guard opposing fours, and he has flashed the potential to create for himself. There are some real concerns about the floor spacing between him and Gobert. However, the defensive upside of Gobert protecting the rim and Beringer roaming around and guarding fours is tantalizing.
Whether it's solely soaking up the non-Rudy minutes or even playing alongside him a bit, a breakout season from Beringer could help solve some of the Timberwolves' biggest problems, which in the end could significantly boost their title chances.
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