Joan Beringer appears to have a real chance to earn a larger role with the Minnesota Timberwolves next season. Chris Finch believes the opportunity is already there. The coach identified the one area Beringer must improve before those extra minutes become a regular part of Minnesota’s rotation.
Joan Beringer Must Fix One Thing To Earn Bigger Role
Chris Finch Sees Bigger Role
Finch made it clear that Minnesota’s confidence in Beringer has not changed. Speaking during Amazon Prime’s Summer League broadcast, the Timberwolves coach said the organization expects the 19-year-old to take “a step forward” after his rookie season. Finch also pointed to the current roster, saying “there’s a really important role for him.” Those comments come as Minnesota continues to look for answers in its frontcourt following offseason roster changes during the franchise’s biggest summer in recent history.
Chris Finch on Joan Beringer:
We just we love the the raw talent, the athleticism. He’s developing feel fast for a young player who came to the game late. The key for him is going to be foul trouble. You know, staying out of foul trouble.He’s fearless. He he backs down from… pic.twitter.com/vpItW3oo9Y
— Nadine Babu (@NadineBabu) July 9, 2026
The opportunity is not based only on potential. Beringer showed flashes during limited NBA action last season and has remained one of the organization’s most intriguing young players. Minnesota has also expanded his responsibilities during Summer League, giving him minutes at both center and power forward as the coaching staff evaluates different lineup combinations. That experiment also fits the organization’s search for a clearer team identity, while finding more ways to use his size, mobility and defensive range.
Joan Beringer Must Avoid Fouls
While Finch praised Beringer’s development, he also pointed to the biggest issue holding him back. “The key for him is going to be foul trouble,” Finch said before adding that the team wants him to “temper his aggressiveness.” Rather than asking Beringer to play less physically, Finch wants him to pick his spots more carefully and avoid unnecessary contact around the basket.
The numbers show why the coaching staff keeps stressing this point. Beringer averaged 5.4 fouls for every 36 minutes he played during his rookie season, and those fouls often limited his time on the court. His shot-blocking skills and energy were easy to see, but frequent fouls made it tough for Minnesota to keep him in the game for long stretches.
Now, staying on the court might be just as important as protecting the rim if he wants to be a regular part of Finch’s rotation.
Summer League Shows Progress
Beringer responded with one of his best performances in Minnesota’s Summer League opener against the New Orleans Pelicans. He finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks while committing only two fouls in 25 minutes. The stat line was encouraging, but the foul total may have been the most important number of the night after Finch’s comments earlier in the day.
His defense also looked more controlled than it did at times during his rookie season. Beringer stayed patient around the rim, challenged shots without constantly reaching and still made his presence felt as a rim protector.
On the offensive end, he showed more confidence handling the ball in space instead of relying only on finishes around the basket. That added versatility could also help Minnesota continue addressing its offensive issues. Summer League results should always be viewed with caution, but Beringer’s first outing addressed the exact area Finch identified before the game.
Joan Beringer’s Minutes Await
Minnesota’s coaching staff has spent more than a year developing Beringer, and Finch’s latest comments suggest the next phase is about consistency rather than talent. The Timberwolves believe he has the athletic ability to help the team now. The remaining question is whether he can stay on the floor long enough to make that impact over the course of an NBA game.
The early signs have been encouraging. Beringer opened Summer League by producing on both ends while avoiding the foul trouble that followed him as a rookie. If that carries into the regular season, Minnesota could have another dependable frontcourt option ready for a much larger workload. Finch has already said the role is available. The next step belongs to Beringer.
Jesse Johnson, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
