When the Minnesota Timberwolves drafted 18-year-old French center Joan Beringer with the No. 17 overall pick back in June, it was unclear what to expect of him. Beringer's upside as a mobile shot blocker and rim runner was undeniable. Yet playing behind Rudy Gobert on a competitive team limited his number of possible opportunities. Not to mention, Beringer only started playing basketball in 2021.
As such, it was fair to expect Beringer to receive little to no real minutes during his rookie season. And up until recently, this looked like how things would play out for Beringer -- he had only played in garbage time minutes and in the G League for the first 40 games of the season.
However, last week Rudy Gobert got suspended for a game against the Milwaukee Bucks, forcing Chris Finch to insert Beringer into the rotation. The rookie didn't disappoint, racking up 13 points, five rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 30 minutes.
Beringer played just six minutes during the Wolves' following game. But during Sunday's game against the San Antonio Spurs, Gobert was injured, and Naz Reid also picked up a mid-game injury that kept him sidelined. Beringer once again stepped up, pouring in 10 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. Finch even trusted him enough to close the game.
Joan Beringer’s first 2 games playing 20+ minutes
— Wilder Adams (@whatsontapnba) January 18, 2026
11.5 PPG
6.5 RPG
2.5 APG
84.6+
+19.5!!!!! (best on the team)
Against Giannis. Against Wemby.
Deserves rotation opportunity whenever possible going forward pic.twitter.com/T2wjssRXcV
Joan Beringer is (already) making an impact
Undoubtedly, Beringer is showing that he is ahead of schedule and is ready to contribute meaningful minutes to one of the best teams in the league. That should send the entire league a message: Minnesota has found a massive draft-day steal.
Beringer's play is even more impressive when considering it came against Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama.
Gobert is 33 and showing no signs of decline. Nevertheless, when he eventually does start to fadeaway, the Wolves have a clear successor for him. In the meantime, having two high-level rim protectors is a clear advantage for the Wolves.
The Timberwolves have struggled in the non-Rudy minutes all season long. Notably, the Wolves are 15.3 points per 100 possessions better on defense with Gobert on the court, which is the most significant on/off defensive swing in the league. Beringer offers a clear solution to this problem. The Wolves have a 112.8 defensive rating with him on the court, which is better than their overall 123.8 DRTG without Rudy.
It was always clear that Beringer had immense upside. However, I never expected him to be this good this fast, especially on offense, which was considered the weaker part of his game during the draft process. Beringer's positioning, hustle, athleticism, and hands have really stood out. Defensively, he's been even better than advertised, providing an immediate impact as a switchable rim protector. Impressively, he is holding opposing players to 44.5 percent shooting within six feet of the hoop.
Sure, he needs to work on fouling and one-on-one defense, but for a rookie playing his first real minutes, you couldn't ask for much more.
Ultimately, Beringer's first real minutes have not only shown flashes of his upside, but they've proven he can play now and that the Wolves found an absolute gem. He was viewed as a raw yet high upside prospect. As such, I have to wonder: what will he look like at his ceiling?