Who is Joan Beringer? Meet Timberwolves' draft pick who didn't play basketball until 2021

Joan Beringer won't turn 19 until November. And he only started playing basketball in 2021.

On Wednesday night, he became the No. 17 overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA Draft.

What a rise for Beringer.

ESPN's broadcast called him the best shot blocker in the entire NBA Draft. He'll get a chance to learn the craft from his French countryman, Rudy Gobert.

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Who is Joan Beringer?

Joan Beringer is an 18-year old, 6-foot-11 center from France. He played professional basketball in Slovenia before the Timberwolves drafted him.

He was a soccer player growing up. He has been quoted as saying that when he was 15 years old, he had "never even touched a basketball.

But his feet were too big for soccer cleats, so he tried basketball.

He moved up the junior ranks of the pro club in Strasbourg, France.

Then in 2024, he joined Olimpija in Slovenia. He was slated for the reserve team before simply being too good and instead earning a senior spot.

Olimpija won the Slovenian Basketball Cup in 2024-25.

In the ABA League, Beringer was the leader in blocks despite being just 18.

Now, he brings that talent to the NBA.

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