After being recalled from a brief stint in the G League on Monday, Minnesota Timberwolves fans were wondering if Joan Beringer was going to be given a chance to play some real rotational minutes. This was especially the case after trusted Timberwolves reporter Jon Krawczynski noted that real minutes "May not be far away" for Beringer.
Beringer only played 4:40 minutes of "garbage time" during Minnesota's blowout 122-94 win over the Miami Heat. Nevertheless, he thrived in these minutes, posting six points and two rebounds. After a performance like this, Chris Finch could be more likely to give Beringer some meaningful minutes.
Finch had high praise for the rookie center after the game.
“Every minute for a guy like Joan is valuable," Finch said. "What he’s doing down in the G league right now is super exciting, and to have him come up here, in the short minutes that he gets, make an impact, that’s what you want. He’s doing his homework, and he’s getting good grades.”
Giving Beringer minutes would benefit the Timberwolves
Beringer's main selling point as a prospect was his rim protection. As the Wolves have struggled mightily in the non-Rudy Gobert minutes, fans have been begging to see what Beringer could do with some significant minutes. However, during Tuesday's game, what really stood out was his offense.
Of Beringer's six points, four of them were off him rolling to the basket. While Beringer's defensive upside (rightfully) gets discussed more, his potential as a rim runner is also undeniable. Beringer has impressive mobility and athleticism for his size (which also makes him a good defender) with great hands and solid instincts.
Joan Beringer PnR dunk, assisted by Rob Dillingham pic.twitter.com/gOsVdREcXu
— Timberwolves Clips (@WolvesClips) January 7, 2026
Given that he is just 19 years old and started playing basketball in 2021, the main concern with Beringer getting minutes was whether his offense would be too raw. Yet this performance shows he might be ready. I would also like to point out that, despite this being "garbage time," Kel'el Ware was still on the floor for the Heat. That makes Beringer's performance all the more impressive.
As the Wolves attempt to evaluate their roster ahead of the trade deadline, it would behoove them to see if Beringer is capable of playing real rotational minutes. Depending on what moves the Wolves make at the deadline, he might have to play. This, paired with how challenging the non-Gobert minutes have been, there's no reason not to give Beringer a shot in the rotation.
Plus, it will greatly help his development to get some meaningful minutes on an NBA court. There's really no downside to playing him.
Between Beringer's stellar play against the Heat, Finch's high praise, how his minutes would help the team, and Krawczynski speculating that he could earn minutes, the stars appear to be aligning for the talented rookie. The possibility of real minutes from Beringer soon is a thought that should excite Wolves fans.