Joan Beringer has one skill that undeniably makes him primed for NBA success

Undoubtedly, Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Joan Beringer is a gifted defender. Beringer posted an impressive 2.5 blocks per game in summer league, including six blocks in his debut. He also averaged 1.5 blocks in his last season with Cedevita Olimpija.

While Beringer's rim protection is stellar, his versatility and mobility make him a truly special defender. Beringer's quickness also helps him as a shot blocker, given his exceptional reaction time. Beringer's versatility and abilities as a rim deterrent make him perfectly suited for the modern NBA.

In today's NBA, being solely an elite rim protector typically isn't enough, unless you're a historically great defender like Rudy Gobert. Nevertheless, for the most part, versatility is required to be an elite defender. Versatility has been a common theme with some of the recent DPOY winners and candidates, including Evan Mobley, Victor Wembanyama, and Jaren Jackson Jr.

Beringer's defensive versatility sets him up for NBA success

Few players can move as quickly as Beringer does at his size (6-foot-11) and age (18). He moves more like a wing or guard than a center, which is a skill that will allow him to blossom into an elite defender. Watching Beringer play, his soccer background is evident, given how fluidly he moves.

Pick-and-roll defense has become a crucial element of the modern NBA, and Beringer excels as a PNR defender. Beringer can cover space and recover masterfully; he often finds a way to block shots even when it looks impossible. If Beringer needs to switch onto opposing guards, he is agile enough to do that. Being able to comfortably switch onto all positions is a hallmark of modern defense, and Beringer can do just that.

Centers are constantly put through pick-and-roll actions and have more responsibilities than ever before. As a result, Beringer's mobility and elite reaction time suit him to thrive as a defensive anchor. In transition, Beringer beats opposing players down the court and often finds a way to miraculously block shots. Ultimately, this impressive skill set makes Beringer primed for success and gives him incredible defensive upside.

While it may take some time for the 18-year-old center to develop in the NBA, his upside is immense. Beringer just started playing basketball at 15, so expecting him to make an immediate impact on a team with title aspirations might be a bit too optimistic.

Nevertheless, Beringer has the tools to eventually become one of the league's best defenders, and his versatility is directly connected to this upside. Offensively, his speed and athleticism make him well-equipped to be a rim runner. Learning behind Gobert will undoubtedly benefit Beringer. When Gobert is ready to retire, the Wolves seemingly have the perfect successor. Overall, Beringer's defensive gifts should have fans excited about his upside regardless of what role he plays as a rookie.