Joan Beringer shook his head out of frustration.
Seven months ago, he was a teenager playing in a professional league in Slovenia. On Friday, Beringer, still a teenager, was playing in an NBA preseason game, defending Joel Embiid. It was early in the third quarter, and up until that point, Embiid — playing for the first time since February 22 and not going full intensity — had yet to give the French rookie a welcome-to-the-NBA moment.
Embiid put his back to Beringer, created space, and spun around, opening up a mid-range shot that most players in Slovenia would have taken. Beringer jumped to block the shot attempt, but Embiid hit the 19-year-old with a pump fake and drew the type of foul that has become a patented part of Embiid’s game.
Beringer was upset with himself. Embiid patted him on the chest. The coaching staff was stone-faced on the bench. They prepped Beringer to stay down against Embiid’s pumpfakes. Still, they knew it was a matter of time before the seven-time All-Star would get the better of the rookie.
The Minnesota Timberwolves lost 126-110, but it was a preseason game, and none of Minnesota’s regular rotation players played. Beringer’s foul was not in the slightest way a negative, either. Embiid has hurt the Wolves with his pump fake in the past, but this time, the inevitable foul was a valuable learning experience for their rookie.
Rocco Zikarsky, Minnesota’s other towering rookie big man, was on the bench at the time of the foul, and he likely took some mental notes when it happened. The Wolves dropped Beringer and Zikarsky into the deep end this preseason, battling the best of the best at their position, but they didn’t panic.
They kept their heads above water during every game.
let’s work.
pic.twitter.com/IfUZX3puxk
— Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) July 1, 2025
Beringer, 6’11”, and Zikarsky, 7’3”, are not your typical rookies. Joan first picked up a basketball four years ago and is still learning to speak and understand English. Rocco, a 19-year-old Australian, spent two seasons playing for the Brisbane Bullets. They enter the NBA with professional experience at a remarkably young age, which is a unique achievement. However, like any other rookie, Beringer and Zikarsky have much to learn.
Realistically, they are multiple years away from requiring anything from them in the regular season. The current focus for both players is to solidify the team’s concepts and adjust to the NBA’s pace and physicality.
“I think I’m slowly getting it,” Zikarsky told the media last week. “Obviously, there’s a jump from the NBL (National Basketball League) to the NBA in terms of athleticism and speed of the game, but the concepts have been great [in practice]. It makes my job a lot easier when I am playing with these caliber athletes, as well. It’s great.”
Zikarsky has enjoyed getting to know guys like Anthony Edwards, Julius Randle, and Rudy Gobert, whom he used to watch on TV. Now, Zikarsky is getting to pick their brains and learn the nuances of the NBA game. But ultimately, seeing actual reps on the court, battling through tough matchups, is the best way for Zikarsky and Beringer to learn how professional basketball is played in the States. The preseason is the perfect stage to do just that.
“It’s been pretty fun,” said Zikarksy regarding his experience in the preseason. “It was good to roll out the ball and play some games against other teams, especially playing my preseason debut against Jokič. I think that was really fun.”
The Wolves dropped Beringer and Zikarsky into the deep end in their first preseason game against the Denver Nuggets. Beringer started the second quarter. His first NBA matchup? 6-foot-11, 265-pound 13-year veteran Jonas Valančiūnas.
Beringer, who weighs 230 pounds, couldn’t help but laugh as he recalled the matchup.
“Valančiūnas was very strong,” he said. “I think it’s really good experience for me to play against this type of player because when I was in Slovenia last year, I never played against this type of player.”
Beringer was helpless when Valančiūnas dropped his shoulder and posted him up. It was a matchup that highlighted why Beringer is a developmental player for the Wolves. He needs more time before things will click into place — more time to learn the nuances of the NBA and more time to put on weight to defend its big, burly players.
At the same time, Beringer showed off why the Wolves used their 17th overall pick on him. He’s a blur in transition, moves his feet very well in the halfcourt, and has good timing when he goes to block shots. The natural athleticism for a guy of Beringer’s size who is still learning the ins and outs of basketball is fascinating.
“Above the rim, [Joan] is extremely impressive,” Zikarsky said. “He’s able to run the floor. I think his biggest improvement has been physicality. He’s getting all of the offensive boards. He’s playing hard. His motor is unbelievable.”
Zikarsky is also learning the physicality of the NBA. “It’s a grown man’s league,” he said. “Getting hit and hitting back. Those are the biggest improvements [for me] so far.”
The first player that Zikarsky had to take hits from was Nikola Jokić in the same game where Beringer was battling Valančiūnas. Later on in the preseason, Beringer defended Karl-Anthony Towns for a few possessions. And then on Friday, the two big men took turns against Embiid.
Not only did Beringer and Zikarsky have to get used to the NBA’s pace and physicality, but they had to do so against players who have amassed a combined 19 All-Star appearances. They were in the deep end of a pool they’ve never swum in and didn’t panic. Beringer and Zikarsky learned lessons, gained experience, and began looking comfortable while treading water.
Against the Sixers, Beringer scored 13 points on 6-7 shooting. He stuck to the game plan when defending Embiid, which is all you can ask of any defender in the league.
Zikarsky had nine points against Philly, attacking Embiid for a tough layup and drilling a no-dip three right in front of a defender as the shot clock dwindled in the fourth quarter.
Barring an injury, Beringer and Zikarsky won’t be in the rotation this year. They are still developmental big men and will need more time to develop. Who knows when they will get regular-season minutes? That makes their extended reps in the preseason that much more important to serve as a kick-start to their NBA careers.
They experienced the league’s pace and physicality, and they began learning closely from their accomplished teammates. They slowly looked more comfortable in these waters, doing so against future Hall of Fame players at their positions.
Perhaps Beringer and Embiid meet again in a regular-season game down the road. Maybe Zikarsky will also be in Minnesota’s rotation. Who knows. Embiid would hit another pump fake and probably draw a foul. If it were on Beringer, he would react exactly how he reacted on Friday. Embiid’s pumpfake is just that good. Even the best defenders get frustrated with it.
If Beringer and Zikarsky end up in an NBA rotation years from now, they will be able to look back on their first preseason as a reason why. Joan may not remember his first foul against an Embiid pumpfake. Rocco may not remember when he converted a tough layup over Embiid. They may not remember the small plays from the last few weeks, but the lessons they learned while treading this deep preseason water will stick with them for a while.