Joan Beringer’s upside has excited fans since he was drafted in June, and after summer league, this upside became even clearer. Recently, on the Bill Simmons Podcast, Nate Tice, an NFL analyst and Minnesota Timberwolves fan, raved about Beringer’s play and upside.
“He (Beringer) catches everything. I’m pretty astonished by him; he moves like a star,” Nate Tice said. He has a good feel for space, he’s stronger, he’s not just a lanky athlete.”
It’s hard not to get excited about Beringer. As an 18-year-old who just started playing basketball three years ago, Beringer showcases an impressive skill set on both ends of the court. Defensively, he has an ideal blend of shot blocking and versatility. Offensively, Beringer’s athleticism and hands paired with his screen setting make him a perfect lob threat. With his age, skill set, and solid summer league play, Beringer’s upside is immense, and everyone seems to be realizing it.
Beringer's two-way upside
Beringer’s summer league averages of 6.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks might not jump off the page. Outside of his first game, where he poured in 11 points and six blocks, Beringer was relatively quiet in Las Vegas. However, Beringer’s impact extends beyond the stat sheet, and eye-test wise, he looked amazing.
Versatility is a highly coveted skill set in the modern NBA. Beringer showed a high level of comfort when switching onto smaller players, which is rare for an 18-year-old. For a near 7-foot center, Beringer moves remarkably fluidly. This paired with Beringer’s athleticism, length, and reaction time, makes him a special defensive prospect.
Beringer’s shot blocking jumps off the screen; however, he is also a clear rim deterrent and highly switchable defender. Having elite rim protection paired with versatility is a recipe for defensive dominance. Learning behind Rudy Gobert will undoubtedly further benefit Beringer’s defense.
Beringer plays a traditional lob threat role on offense. He has great hands and finishes powerfully at the rim. His screening is also impressive. While Beringer’s offensive game is somewhat raw still, he showed off an impressive comfort level in summer league. Beringer’s rim running skill set also gives him a clear offensive role. If Beringer can develop as a scorer outside of the rim or as a playmaker, he could reach another level.
To Tice’s original point, Beringer’s movement on both ends of the stands out as star-like. Offensively, this is evident when he is rolling off screens and catching lobs. Defensively, this can be seen with his switchability and reaction time. In transition, Beringer’s speed and mobility also stand out. He simply looks like an athlete who belongs in the NBA.
Beringer’s former soccer skills certainly benefit him regarding his speed and mobility. Ultimately, when you see a young player like Beringer with these physical gifts who already looks comfortable in an NBA-like setting, it’s hard not to be enamoured with his upside.