ESPN Expert Crowns Wolves as 1st Round NBA Draft Winner

Last year, the Minnesota Timberwolves made their mark on the NBA Draft by trading up for Kentucky Wildcats guard Rob Dillingham. Wolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly was taking calls to move up or down from the 17th overall pick this cycle, but it never came to fruition.

Instead, the Timberwolves ultimately stayed put, just outside the draft lottery, and selected French 7-footer, Joan Beringer. Minnesota hopes that fellow countryman Rudy Gobert can help ease Beringer’s transition to pro basketball in America.

The new 18-year-old big man just learned how to speak English recently, a language that reportedly took him only 7 months to figure out. Much like Rudy, Beringer is known for his shot-blocking and defensive abilities. He can also run and stretch the floor in a way Gobert cannot.

The 2025 NBA Draft is not over yet. This is the second-straight offseason that the NBA Draft has been split into two days and the Minnesota Timberwolves happen to hold the first overall selection in tonight’s second round, a pick GM Matt Lloyd thinks they will get future 1st round offers for throughout the day.

Joan Beringer draws glowing praise for Minnesota Timberwolves

But let’s stay focused on Minnesota’s 2025 first round pick, because the Timberwolves are receiving a lot of praise Thursday morning for the Joan Beringer selection. Most NBA Draft pundits see Beringer as a cinch NBA talent, once he gets a couple years to grow into his potential.

But one draft expert, Jeremy Woo (ESPN), even tagged the Wolves as Wednesday night’s biggest non-lottery winner, noting “it’s hard to find centers with his caliber of physical traits who can also run the floor and protect the rim”.

Joan Beringer to the Timberwolves at No. 17. I’m high on Beringer’s long-term outlook — it’s hard to find centers with his caliber of physical traits who can also run the floor and protect the rim. His age and relative inexperience leave a ton of room for him to improve.

Getting to develop behind another Frenchman in Rudy Gobert, who could be a valuable mentor as Beringer makes a major leap to the NBA level, could be an ideal situation to help him tap into his significant ability. This might take some time to pay off, but as Minnesota continues to try to build a winner with Anthony Edwards, landing a talent of this caliber and also addressing a long-term need could be a real coup.

Jeremy Woo – ESPN

At just 18 years old, Beringer is a late basketball bloomer, having only played the game for four years of his life, to this point. Last year, he played his first professional season, as a member of Cedevita Olimpija (Slovenia).

Without a doubt, the Minnesota Timberwolves grabbed one of the biggest risers during the draft process and one of the highest-ceiling big man talents available in 2025.

Joan Beringer can be a MASSIVE addition to the Minnesota Timberwolves

Actually extremely excited

pic.twitter.com/To3yoVSClf

— Wolves Lead (@TWolvesLead) June 26, 2025

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It’s possible that a couple short years from now, Beringer develops into the perfect replacement for Rudy Gobert, except he won’t require the same trade haul that the MN Timberwolves sent to the Utah Jazz a few years ago.

The draft board appeared to be falling in the Minnesota Timberwolves favor for much of the first round. That was until the Khaman Maluach slide ended, and Georgetown’s Thomas Sorber — who the Wolves were connected to throughout the pre-draft process — went two picks earlier (15th) to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

But if the teenage Joan Beringer is their consolation prize, then the Timberwolves have to feel pretty good about how the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft went down. Now, it’s time to have another good night in round two.