Joan Beringer Leaves Cedevita Olimpija for the NBA

Joan Beringer, a young and talented French center, is leaving Cedevita Olimpija and, following an agreement with the Minnesota Timberwolves—who selected him 17th overall in this year’s NBA Draft—is moving his career to the United States.

The agreement between Cedevita Olimpija and the Minnesota Timberwolves also includes financial compensation for the Ljubljana-based club, which provided Beringer with a key developmental environment during the 2024/25 season. Wearing the Cedevita Olimpija jersey, he impressed with his energy, maturity, and strong feel for the game—qualities that did not go unnoticed by scouts from the world’s strongest basketball league. On June 25 in Brooklyn, he was selected 17th overall by Minnesota, where he will now continue his career.

“Joan made great strides in his development at our club, and we are proud that he matured with us to the point where he is now ready to take on his greatest challenge—playing in the NBA. We wish him the best of luck in Minnesota, where we believe he will continue to grow, both as a player and as a person,” said KK Cedevita Olimpija director Davor Užbinec upon Beringer’s departure.

Beringer began his basketball journey with SIG Strasbourg, where he played in the youth ranks. Ahead of the 2024/25 season, he moved to Ljubljana. Initially expected to join the youth teams, he immediately joined the senior squad’s preparations in Kranjska Gora, where his performances impressed the coaching staff and earned him a spot on the senior roster. In November 2024, shortly after turning 18, he signed his first professional contract with Cedevita Olimpija.

During the 2024/25 season, Beringer appeared in 33 ABA League games and 19 EuroCup games. In the EuroCup, he averaged 4.6 points and 5.3 rebounds in under 18 minutes per game and was named the second-best young player of the competition. In the ABA League, he averaged 4.8 points and 4.1 rebounds in 17.2 minutes of play. He concluded the 2024/25 season by winning the national championship title with Cedevita Olimpija.