Joan Beringer has a privilege that few young players can relate to

Minnesota Timberwolves rookie Joan Beringer hasn't played much this season. It's easy to view this as a negative since the 19-year-old big man certainly needs some reps to grow. With Rudy Gobert suspended, Beringer saw his first rotational minutes on Tuesday night, and he thrived. Beringer racked up 13 points (on 6-for-7 shooting), five rebounds, two assists, and a steal en route to a 139-106 win.

One undeniable advantage of being on the Timberwolves for Beringer is that he can learn from Gobert. The similarities between Beringer and Gobert are obvious; both players are defensive-minded big men who are often utilized as rim runners and screeners on offense. Plus, they're both from France, and Gobert is committed to helping Beringer grow.

There's simply no better player for Beringer to learn from than the four-time Defensive Player of the Year and future Hall of Famer. In Beringer's first time playing meaningful minutes, Gobert's influence on him was clear. Undoubtedly, Gobert's presence will set up Beringer for long-term success.

The benefits of learning from Gobert are clear

A couple of specific areas of Gobert's game that were evident in Beringer's performance on Tuesday were crashing the offensive glass and being in the right spot on both ends of the court. Finding a way to impact the offense even without the ball was another impressive part of Beringer's performance.

Rim protection was Beringer's main selling point as a prospect. As such, learning from the greatest rim protector of all-time is a true luxury and rarity. Beringer's athleticism and length give him immense upside on defense. However, what's stood out to me in his limited minutes is how well he understands some of the more nuanced aspects of defense and how rare mistakes are for him.

I was truly blown away by his ability to make a strong impact on offense during Tuesday's game, though. On both ends of the court, Beringer appears to be ahead of schedule. Of course, Beringer deserves credit for learning the ropes, but there's no doubt that being around Gobert benefits him.

Beringer isn't the exact same player as Gobert, and it's silly to say he is on an identical trajectory. However, there's no denying that their playstyles are similar, and it's clear that learning from Gobert is already helping Beringer develop. As his career goes on, Gobert's influence will continue to be crucial, and it could ultimately help him reach his ceiling. The Wolves also have a winning culture, which helps teach Beringer the right habits and puts him in a position to contribute to meaningful basketball.

While it's easy to say being on a pure rebuilding team would benefit Beringer in the sense that he'd get more in-game reps, learning from an all-time great and a successful team could prove to be more impactful.