Joan Beringer has shown glimpses of what he can be in the future for the Minnesota Timberwolves this season. The rim-running, rim protection, and overall rebounding abilities can allow him to see many minutes in years to come for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It also needs to be remembered that Beringer is still just 19 years old, hasn’t played the sport all that long, and still needs further development. Where development is clearly still needed is with his discipline on the defensive end, as he is frequently committing fouls on opposing shooters.
Beringer committed five fouls on Wednesday
Wednesday was a chance for Beringer (along with others) to see playing time that they normally wouldn't have. Yes, Jaden McDaniels came back after a 6-game absence. But with the Wolves essentially locked into the sixth seed (and after losing, they now are), Anthony Edwards, Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, Ayo Dosunmu, and Mike Conley all sat out.
In Wednesday’s 132-120 loss to the Orlando Magic, Beringer nearly got to play half the game. It would have likely been a longer playing stint, except foul trouble kept him on the bench for nearly the entire second quarter.
Just 26 seconds into the second frame, Beringer picked up his third foul. He would add two more in the third quarter, giving him five in the game. All five of them were shooting fouls, and two of them saw the opponent still make the basket and complete the 3-point play.
Now, a positive sign from Joan is that he was able to play the entire fourth quarter without picking up his sixth foul, and thus didn't foul out. The 17th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft again had moments where he showcased why he can be a big part of the team as he finished with nine points, eight rebounds, and two blocks.
In 38 outings this season, Beringer has played 257 total minutes for the Timberwolves. Altogether, he has committed 42 fouls, with 34 of those being fouls on an opposing shooter.
Maybe 42 doesn’t sound like a lot, but since the neophyte center hasn’t played all that much, that equates to 5.9 fouls per 36 minutes. Of players who have played at least 250 minutes this season, only Myron Gardner of the Miami Heat and Dylan Caldwell of the Sacramento Kings have averaged more fouls per 36.
Beringer still has plenty of promise
While the fouling problem is something to keep an eye on, it shouldn’t be a huge concern for Beringer at his young age. It is common to see a center enter the league fouling often, before learning how to play on the defensive side without hacking and whacking.
Take a look at Mitchell Robinson’s fouls per 36 minutes throughout his career with the New York Knicks as an example.
Joan is still a promising big man that the fanbase should feel good about. It’s just something that he needs to work at as his role increases in future seasons.
If the team doesn't feel like Beringer is ready for larger minutes next season in part because of the fouling, then the likelihood of all three of Rudy Gobert, Julius Randle, and Naz Reid remaining on the team increases.