Joan Beringer

Beringer is a French center who entered the NBA as a lottery pick in 2025 after a remarkably rapid rise from a football-playing teenager to a professional basketball prospect in just a few years. He has played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, where his size, shot-blocking, and mobility have made him an intriguing developmental big man.

Born on November 11, 2006, in Selestat, France, Beringer is the son of an Alsatian father and a mother from Benin. He spent his first decade in Selestat before moving to Strasbourg. He played football growing up and only tried basketball at age 14 after being unable to find cleats in his size. He joined Strasbourg Saint-Joseph Basket and later moved to SIG Strasbourg, where he averaged 4.1 points in the U18 league as a freshman and 17.4 points as a sophomore.

In the summer of 2024, Beringer moved to Ljubljana to join Cedevita Olimpija. Initially slated for the reserve squad, he impressed in practice and was promoted to the senior team before playing a game. In November 2024, he signed a four-year contract and helped the team win the Slovenian Basketball Cup.

The Minnesota Timberwolves selected Beringer with the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NBA draft. He debuted in the 2025 Summer League and recorded a career-high 24 points, 12 rebounds, and seven blocks on April 12, 2026. He has also represented France at the 2023 FIBA U18 European Championship.

Beringer is a mobile center with elite size, shot-blocking instincts, and a developing offensive game. He scores on lobs, putbacks, and short rolls, and he uses his length and timing to protect the rim. His rapid physical development and late start in basketball suggest untapped potential for teams willing to invest in his long-term growth.

Beringer begins his NBA career as a young center with lottery-pick pedigree and a unique developmental trajectory. His rise from a football player who had never touched a basketball to a first-round draft pick in less than a decade reflects extraordinary physical tools and a rapid learning curve that teams continue to monitor.