Joan Bellinger finally made his debut with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The rookie played in the team’s first preseason game against the Denver Nuggets, where the Timberwolves won 126-116.
Joan Beringer scored 14 points and played 23 minutes while grabbing four rebounds to show his potential.
The Frenchman was selected as No. 17 overall in the 2025 NBA Draft and had already won praise from Anthony Edwards before making his debut.
However, the preseason opener delivered his “Welcome to the NBA moment” when he struggled with Nuggets Center Jonas Valanciunas.
After the game, Bellinger revealed the difficulty of defending a legitimate NBA center, with Valanciunas scoring six points directly against him.
“He’s so strong that I couldn’t move him,” Bellinger admitted frankly.
Valanciunas showed effectiveness in the backup role behind Nikola Jokic, providing the nugget with reliable veteran production.
The game gave the 18-year-old rookie a valuable lesson on the differences in NBA physicality and strength from college competition.
Despite the defensive struggle, Bellinger showed offensive flashes during his match against Denver.
Beyond his scores, he showed good pace for the big man and showed an eagerness to make offensive and aggressive moves.
Timberwolves veteran star Mike Conley was impressed by Bellinger’s performance and expressed confidence in the rookie’s future potential as an NBA player.
Bellinger may not enter the season as a starter, but he has a legitimate opportunity to become a major backup for Rudy Goat.
His offensive abilities and willingness to play aggressively could gain increased responsibility as the season progresses.
If Beringer proved his potential through consistent performance, he was able to ensure an increase in play time as the Timberwolves needed frontcourt depth to compete in the highly competitive Western Conference.