Joan Beringer's potential has Grizzlies analyst losing his mind

Joan Beringer was a fairly unknown prospect when the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted him with the 17th pick. However, his strong summer league start has caught the attention of many, including Memphis Grizzlies analyst and popular NBA podcaster Chris Vernon. 

“My first impression of this guy was, oh buddy. You see that raw athleticism, and you see that frame. If they can teach this guy what he needs to be able to do, this is freako stuff like truly freakish… He finishes dunks, and just the blocking of the shots, he is a freaky athlete,” Vernon said on a recent episode of The Mismatch podcast. 

Vernon is spot on with his analysis of Beringer’s skill set and upside. Beringer’s combination of size, length, athleticism, and mobility makes him highly impactful defensively. This also makes him an efficient play-finisher as a lob threat. At 18, with only three years of basketball experience, Beringer’s upside on both ends of the floor is immense. 

Beringer's incredible potential

After Beringer was drafted, many people wondered how impactful he would be early on, given his age and basketball experience. Through three summer league games, Beringer is averaging 7 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1.6 assists, and a steal. It’s still unclear if Beringer can play rotational NBA minutes as a rookie. Nevertheless, Beringer’s summer league play has shown he is ahead of schedule and has displayed his incredible upside. 

Beringer caught the eyes of many in the NBA media, including Vernon, during his first summer league game. He poured in 11 points, 8 rebounds, 6 blocks, and two steals. This game was the perfect display of his elite rim protection and physical gifts. Beringer's combination of rim protection and switchability makes him a special defender. Doing this in his first NBA-like setting is highly impressive and shows his star-level upside. 

Being able to learn behind Rudy Gobert and be part of a winning culture will benefit Beringer’s career. It’s likely that he’ll play spot rotation minutes as a rookie before getting a sizable role in his second or third year. While it’s clear how he will make an impact on defense, his offense is a bit raw. Still, Beringer has good hands, and his athleticism makes him an excellent lob threat. If Beringer develops an outside shot and/or improves as a passer, he could be a true star.

By the time Beringer reaches his prime, he could be one of the league’s best two-way centers. Of course, this is a high bar for Beringer, but he has the tools to reach this potential. 

Ultimately, Beringer’s upside is immense, and his summer league play has built plenty of buzz. Vernon’s comments highlight how excited people within the NBA community are about Beringer and the player he can become.