Minnesota Timberwolves big man Joan Beringer is one of the higher upside rookies in the 2025 class. The 6-foot-11 Frenchman has a rare blend of rim protection, athleticism, and mobility. One of the more unique things about Beringer is that he started playing basketball at 15 years old. On a recent episode of The Game Theory Podcast, The Athletic's Sam Vecenie notes that, in general, he's concerned with how players can make up the experience gap. This is something that certainly applies to Beringer.
"I think it's hard to make up the experience gap, Vecenie noted. Guys that start later in basketball, I tend to be a little bit more wary of these guys being able to make up that gap. In terms of guys that have been playing for their entire lives, they have a natural inherent understanding of basketball."
Experience is certainly a concern for Beringer. Going from never playing basketball until 2021 to a first-round pick in 2025 is an impressive accomplishment, but it's worth wondering how his transition to the league will play out. However, Vecenie also notes this is far from a perfect science, and there are plenty of examples of later bloomers who have been successful. Even Hall of Famers like Tim Duncan and Hakeem Olajuwon didn't start playing basketball until 14 and 15, respectively.
Beringer has tons of upside but he is also raw
With Beringer, his upside and physical tools are undeniable. He showed off his incredible defensive potential in summer league, racking up 2.5 blocks, including a six-block game. Beringer's combination of shot blocking and switchability makes him primed for defensive success. However, it's also clear that his offense is fairly raw. Whether it be in summer league or international play, Beringer's offense wasn't caught up to his defense.
Sure, he's a solid screener and has good hands as a lob threat. Nevertheless, he's a pure play finisher and is limited with the ball in his hands both as a passer and shot creator. If Beringer isn't catching lobs or setting screens, he looks lost on offense at times. At the NBA level, he'll need to process the game faster. Despite his main strength being defense and plenty of positive abilities already on that end of the court, he's often overly aggressive and averaged 2.4 fouls in 18.3 minutes overseas.
It's worth wondering how Beringer will develop at the NBA level, especially because he likely won't play much as a rookie. Regardless, it's clear he needs more reps. Don't be surprised if he spends some time in the G League, especially early on.
While Vecenie notes his general concern with players who lack a lot of basketball experience, it's worth noting that he ranked Beringer 13th on his big board. This is undoubtedly a testament to his upside and the defensive acumen he already shows.
The experience factor is certainly a reasonable concern for Beringer, but he's shown plenty of promise already, especially in his ability to read the game defensively. Learning from Rudy Gobert will further help this aspect of Beringer's game. It may take some time for Beringer's offense to develop, but he has the ideal skill set for a modern big man.