Most rookies struggle to some extent in their first Summer League action. That wasn’t the case for Timberwolves’ rookie center Joan Beringer, who the club drafted with the 18th pick this season. Some other high-profile rookies in Minnesota’s Thursday afternoon win over the Pelicans struggled, but Beringer dominated from start to finish.
How did Beringer dominate the game?
In his first 23 minutes of NBA action, Beringer logged 11 points (5-6), 8 rebounds, 2 steals and a comical 7 blocks with just two personal fouls. His rim protection mirrored his teammate Rudy Gobert, shutting down the basket throughout the entirety of the game.
Beringer landed in the top 20 of the 2025 NBA Draft on the back of his phenomenal athletic profile, standing at 6’11 with some of the draft’s best vertical explosiveness. He bounds off of the floor at lightning speed and showcased his great instincts on his blocked shots against the Pelicans, making life a nightmare for Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen in the paint.
Somehow, his gaudy block totals undersell his defensive impact in his Summer League debut. He altered countless shots that didn’t lead to blocks, showcasing impressive discipline on pump fakes for an 18-year-old big man. Attackers often didn’t even challenge Beringer at the hoop, electing to pass out or take a shorter shot instead of trying to score on a lidded basket.
Beringer progressed as a defender as his final season with KK Cedevita before entering the draft and his unbelievable shot blocking and mobility immediately translated. His 8.2% block rate ranked second in the 2025 draft class and he didn’t waste any time impacting the game on defense.
Joan Beringer with TWO early blocks 🚫🚫
The MIN First Round pick is off to a strong start!
We're underway on ESPN2. pic.twitter.com/VJDqAnIQBD
— NBA (@NBA) July 10, 2025
His low-maintenance offense translated as well; he finished lobs above the rim, snared rebounds and converted advantages created by his teammates. Beringer even flashed some passing and touch, dropping in a floater on the baseline in the first half. He finished an excellent 68.4% of his shots at the rim last season which helped project this success.
For the most part, Beringer avoided the little mental and positional errors that plague most teenagers playing against professionals. Beringer has been a professional basketball player, though, and he looked well equipped to handle the moment. We shouldn’t make sweeping conclusions over single Summer League games, but Beringer began his NBA career as well as anyone could have hoped for.
