Rudy Gobert reacts to French connection in 2025 NBA Draft
The post Rudy Gobert reacts to French connection in 2025 NBA Draft appeared first on ClutchPoints.
The Minnesota Timberwolves' first selection of the 2025 NBA Draft came with the No. 17 overall pick which they used on Joan Beringer from France. With the selection of Beringer, the Timberwolves now have two players of French descent on the roster. Following the news that the Timberwolves had selected Joan Beringer in the first round of the NBA Draft on Thursday, Rudy Gobert took to social media to give his reaction to the pick.
During his rookie season in the NBA with the Timberwolves, Beringer will get a golden opportunity to learn from one of the best centers in the NBA. Beringer gives the Wolves an intriguing option in the frontcourt. In the ABA with Cedevita Olimpija, he appeared in 30 games last season at a little over 18 minutes per game.
Advertisement
Beringer averaged 4.9 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots with splits of 59.4 percent shooting from the field and 60 percent shooting from the free-throw line. He's still raw and developing, but he has strong defensive instincts and ability, not unlike his new Wolves teammate. Rudy Gobert was the No. 27 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, and has become one of the premier defenders in the NBA.
It's been a busy week for the Timberwolves leading up to the NBA Draft. The league recently approved the sale of the team to former MLB star Alex Rodriguez. And over the weekend, before the Houston Rockets' blockbuster trade to acquire Kevin Durant, the Wolves were reportedly very close to trading for the 15-time All-Star.
This past season, the Timberwolves upset the Los Angeles Lakers in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs and dispatched the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals, before being eliminated by the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference Finals.
The team also has a busy free agency period on the horizon as well. Julius Randle and Naz Reid have player options on their contract while Nickeil Alexander-Walker is an unrestricted free agent.
Advertisement
Related: Ex-MLB star Alex Rodriguez, owner group finalize complex Lynx, Timberwolves sale
Related: NBA rumors: Timberwolves the target of draft trade calls
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
30 minutes ago
- Yahoo
LeBron James formally opts in for a 23rd season, will make $52.6M in 2025-26, AP source says
FILE - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) defends during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) FILE - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James appears during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, on Feb. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) FILE - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James appears during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, on Feb. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) FILE - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shoots as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) defends during the first half in Game 5 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) FILE - Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James appears during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, on Feb. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File) LeBron James is exercising his $52.6 million option with the Los Angeles Lakers for 2025-26, further confirming that he will become the first player in NBA history to play a 23rd season, a person with knowledge of the decision said Sunday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because neither James nor the team announced the decision publicly. Advertisement ESPN and The Athletic were among those to first report the decision. James, who recently returned to on-court workouts after taking several weeks to recover after spraining a knee ligament in the Lakers' final game of this past season's playoffs, told the AP earlier this month that he expected to be ready for training camp. That was an obvious sign he planned on returning for a 23rd year, one in which he'll break a tie with Vince Carter for longest NBA career by a player. 'I have a lot of time to take care of my injury, my knee, the rest of my body and make sure I'm as close to 100% as possible when training camp begins in late September,' James said in that interview. If any doubt existed even after that about James, the NBA's oldest current player, coming back for at least one more season, it's gone now. He had until Sunday afternoon to make his decision on the option, one that pushes his career on-court earnings to about $580 million. Advertisement This coming season will be his first full year with Luka Doncic as a teammate. Doncic was traded to the Lakers from Dallas in February, but the team — which entered the postseason as the No. 3 seed in a loaded Western Conference — still fell in Round 1 to Minnesota. James turns 41 in December. He's been an All-NBA pick in 21 of his 22 seasons in the league, including a second-round nod this past season. No other player has more than 15 All-NBA selections. He averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists this past season. The NBA's all-time scoring leader has appeared in 1,562 regular-season games, 49 behind Robert Parish's mark of 1,611 — the most in league history. If healthy, James would obviously figure to break that mark this coming season. ___ AP NBA:
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Juventus 2-5 Manchester City: Rodri stars on return to starting XI as Bianconeri humbled in Orlando
Manchester City were unrelenting on Thursday night as they put five goals past Juventus to top their Club World Cup group. The two sides came into the match level on both points and goal difference, but with the knowledge that whoever finished atop the group would move on to a more friendly side of the knockout draw, likely to avoid the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid. Advertisement City had cruised through the tournament until this point and today faced their first proper test, but swiftly reduced the 36-time Serie A champions to the level of their minnow groupmates Wydad AC and Al-Ain, closing out the group stages with a statement win marked by flashy, swaggering goals. Juventus will progress despite the humbling defeat, but will likely be made to face Real Madrid in the round of 16, a task they will not look forward to after a demoralising result. City, on the other hand, look set to face RB Salzburg. City finding a new top gear coincided with Rodri's return to the starting lineup, ten months after suffering an ACL injury which saw him miss much of last season. He produced the same kind of display which won him the Ballon d'Or, pulling the strings from midfield as he completed 65 minutes. City wasted little time out of the blocks. Rayan Ait-Nouri and Jeremy Doku were both lively in the early stages, so it was little surprise that they would be the men to combine for the opener. Advertisement The Algerian full-back slotted a sumptuous ball through to the winger, who cut inside and delivered a tidy curled finish into the far bottom corner, well beyond the reach of the 'keeper Michele Di Gregorio. Their lead did not hold for long, though. An uncharacteristic misplaced pass from Ederson found only Teun Koopmeiners, who drove at goal and fired home ruthlessly from close range in what would prove to be the only clear-cut Juventus chance of the half. Ederson was lucky, though, as his error was not the worst of the day, or even the worst of the half. City's lead was soon restored as Pierre Kalulu produced a baffling own goal. Pierre Kalulu remonstrates after his own goal (Getty Images) Matheus Nunes drove to the byline and squared a tame cross into the empty penalty area. Kalulu, under no pressure, turned the ball into his own net from the edge of the six-yard box. Advertisement Omar Marmoush did what he could to extend City's lead before the break, forcing a fingertip save from Di Gregorio with a 30-yard piledriver, but the advantage remained at one as the whistle blew. That effort proved his final involvement, too, as he was replaced by Erling Haaland at halftime. The talismanic Norwegian had an immediate impact. Tijjani Reijnders flashed down the right flank and pulled a cross across the box for Haaland to bundle home. It was not the prettiest finish of his career, but they all count. City then produced their statement goals of the afternoon. After a rare Juventus chance, Ederson hoofed the ball long to Haaland, who fed Foden and Savinho to walk the ball over the line, immediately quashing any threat of a comeback. Another punishing blow followed as Di Gregorio saved well from Haaland, only to see Savinho smash a screamer in off the bar from 25 yards. Advertisement Kenan Yıldız then teed up Dušan Vlahović to pull one back, but, it was far too little, far too late. Igor Tudor will be left to pick up the pieces and answer awkward questions after leaving some of his top players out of the starting 11. He must do so quickly, too, with the round of 16 only a few days away. Pep Guardiola, though, is sitting pretty. He and City could not be in a more comfortable position as they head into the knockout phase as definite favourites.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Report: Liverpool Set to Battle Man Utd for PSG Striker
Gonçalo Ramos' PSG Future Uncertain Amid Transfer Interest from Premier League and Saudi Clubs Portuguese striker linked with Manchester United and Liverpool as PSG weigh up options Gonçalo Ramos' future at Paris Saint-Germain is far from settled, with the Portuguese forward the subject of growing transfer speculation following a mixed 2024–25 campaign. Despite contributing 18 goals and six assists across 41 appearances, Ramos' performances—particularly during the FIFA Club World Cup—have left both fans and pundits unconvinced. Advertisement Ramos, 24, struggled to make a significant impact in key fixtures, and his muted display in Saudi Arabia—where Ousmane Dembélé's absence handed him a golden opportunity—did little to silence the doubters. According to RMC Sport pundit Jérôme Rothen, PSG would be willing to entertain offers upwards of €50 million for the former Benfica striker. 'When he has had the opportunity to play and shine, you are often left a little unsatisfied,' Rothen told Le10Sport. 'It's a big club; if there is a significant offer of more than €50 million, they will let him go.' United, Liverpool, and others circling Premier League interest has already surfaced. As reported by journalist Graeme Bailey, Manchester United were offered the chance to sign Ramos earlier this year, with PSG open to negotiation. While no formal approach has been made, the Red Devils are understood to be monitoring the situation. Liverpool have also been linked. Ramos features in the club's analytics-driven recruitment model, though he is not currently considered a top target. Still, the Reds are known to be assessing forward options under their 'Moneyball'-influenced system—particularly ones with potential resale value and peak-age upside. Advertisement European sides and clubs in Saudi Arabia are also believed to have made contact, though no agreement is currently on the table. PSG stance remains firm—for now Despite the growing noise, PSG appear to be holding their ground. As per Foot Mercato's Josué Cassé, both the player and the club remain aligned for the time being. Ramos is said to be settled in the French capital and has no immediate desire to move on. With his current contract running until June 2028, the Parisians are under no financial pressure to sell. That said, much could depend on PSG's summer business—especially in the post-Kylian Mbappé era—as well as Ramos' own desire to lock down a regular starting role ahead of the 2026 World Cup cycle.