It has now been 5 straight games that rookie center Joan Beringer has received playing time for the Minnesota Timberwolves. That’s just the second time that has occurred all season. One big difference, though, is that this current stretch has seen Beringer come in long before the game’s outcome is no longer in doubt.
In two of those recent five outings, Beringer has combined to play nearly 53 minutes of game time. In the other three? A little less than 15 total minutes. It’s fairly evident that when the entire Timberwolves frontcourt is intact, the 19-year-old is going to get a rather brief stay on the court.
He's playing, but just barely
Prior to Thursday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls, Julius Randle was listed as questionable with left foot soreness. He ended up playing, though, and that gave Minnesota a fully available roster minus Terrence Shannon Jr., who has been out since Christmas Day.
With Randle (as well as Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid) appearing against Chicago, Beringer did get to play, but barely. He checked in with 3:06 to go in the opening quarter and stayed in for the rest of the period. Once the second quarter began, he was off the court, where Beringer would remain for the rest of the game.
On January 6, against the Houston Rockets with all three of their key frontcourt players available, Beringer got brief stints of around three minutes in both the first and third stanzas. Playing against the Utah Jazz on January 20, the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft saw about five minutes in the second quarter and 18 seconds in the third. You guessed it, Gobert, Reid, and Randle were all playing in that contest as well.
Against the Milwaukee Bucks on January 13, Rudy Gobert was out for a one-game suspension due to flagrant foul points accumulated. On January 17, against the San Antonio Spurs, not only was Gobert out again (this time with an injury) and Naz Reid left about five minutes into the game with shoulder soreness.
In the two outings, Beringer saw about 53 minutes of action and totaled 23 points, 13 rebounds (nine offensive), five assists, and two blocks. While he impressed in these two games, it hasn't been enough for him to earn a role with a fully healthy frontcourt.
Role could eventually return to staying on bench
Chris Finch has seemed to make it clear of late that Beringer has at least earned the opportunity to play. That playing time will be minimal, though, unless one (or more) of Gobert, Reid, and Randle is unable to play.
Those three have rarely missed any time, though. The recent two games that Gobert has missed are the only two he has missed all year. Both Reid and Randle have needed to miss a single outing all season.
If those three remain healthy, it wouldn’t surprise me if eventually Beringer’s meaningful minutes in a game go from single digits back to zero. I also don’t think that is something that the fanbase wants to see.