With the 2025 NBA Draft just hours away on June 25, 2025, the Chicago Bulls stand at a crossroads, holding the 12th overall pick after a play-in tournament loss to the Miami Heat. As fans flood Facebook with speculation, the Bulls aim to draft a transformative talent to replace aging center Nikola Vučević and reignite their playoff hopes. Bulls insider K.C. Johnson recently dropped a bombshell, naming Joan Beringer—a 6-foot-11 Slovenian center from Cedevita Olimpija—as a top target, despite his raw stats (4.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks). Beringer’s meteoric rise, fueled by elite measurables (7-foot-4.5 wingspan, 9-foot-3 standing reach) and defensive prowess, has him mocked as high as No. 14 by ESPN. Could this late-blooming French big man be Chicago’s franchise-changer, or is the hype outpacing his readiness? This analysis dives into Beringer’s unique journey, his fit with the Bulls, and the risks and rewards of betting on his upside.
Joan Beringer’s Meteoric Rise: From Soccer to NBA Prospect
Joan Beringer’s story is one of the most captivating in the 2025 draft class. Born in Sélestat, France, on November 11, 2006, Beringer didn’t touch a basketball until September 2021, having played soccer until a growth spurt made finding cleats impossible. In just four years, the 18-year-old (third-youngest prospect behind Cooper Flagg and Noa Essengue) transformed into a projected first-round pick, earning a green room invite to the draft. At Cedevita Olimpija in Slovenia’s Adriatic League and EuroCup, Beringer averaged 4.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks in 18 minutes across 51 games, shooting 61.0% from the field. His EuroCup stats (4.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.2 blocks in 17.5 minutes) and Adriatic League block percentage (8.6%, tops in the league) highlight his defensive impact despite modest scoring.
Beringer’s physical tools are jaw-dropping: 6-foot-11 barefoot, 234.8 pounds, with a 7-foot-4.5 wingspan and 9-foot-3 standing reach, measured at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine make-up in Treviso, Italy. These measurables, paired with guard-like agility, make him a defensive unicorn. Scouts compare him to Jaxson Hayes or Clint Capela for his rim-running and shot-blocking, with a ceiling evoking a less-skilled Giannis Antetokounmpo due to his fluidity and work ethic. Beringer led the Adriatic League in block percentage, deterring shots with his length and quick recovery, while his lateral mobility allows switching onto guards—a rarity for a center. Offensively, he’s raw, excelling as a lob threat (1.3 points per possession in pick-and-rolls, 88th percentile) but lacking shooting (0-for-2 from three, 53.9% free throws) or playmaking (0.4 assists per game). His 2024 FIBA U18 EuroBasket performance (9.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 70.5% FG) further showcased his potential.
Beringer’s rapid ascent—from Strasbourg’s U17 team to Cedevita’s senior squad under coach Zvezdan Mitrović—stems from his hunger to learn. Initially slated for Slovenia’s third division, he earned a first-team spot after dominating preseason against Euroleague teams like Anadolu Efes. ESPN ranks him No. 17, with some mocks placing him in the lottery, reflecting his buzz as a late riser.
Fit with the Chicago Bulls: Replacing Vučević’s Role
The Bulls, finishing 2024-25 at 39-43 and losing 109-90 to Miami in the play-in, face a roster overhaul. Nikola Vučević, 34, averaged 18.0 points and 10.5 rebounds but struggled defensively (111.8 defensive rating, 28th among centers) and lacks mobility in Chicago’s 14th-ranked pace (98.7 possessions per game). With Vučević’s $20 million contract expiring in 2026, the Bulls see Beringer as a long-term replacement, per K.C. Johnson’s intel. Chicago’s frontcourt depth—Jalen Smith (25, 9.4 points) and Adama Sanogo (23, G-League standout)—lacks a true rim-protector, making Beringer’s 8.6% block rate and 9-foot-3 reach appealing.
Beringer’s fit is tailor-made for coach Billy Donovan’s system, which emphasizes transition (16.2 fast-break points, 11th in NBA) and pick-and-rolls (22.1% of possessions). His north-south speed (beats bigs in transition, 1.2 points per possession, 90th percentile) and lob-finishing pair with Josh Giddey’s playmaking (7.3 assists per game). Defensively, Beringer’s switchability addresses Chicago’s 20th-ranked defensive rating (113.4), allowing him to hedge or drop in pick-and-rolls alongside Zach LaVine (24.8 points) and Coby White (19.1 points). His 11.5% offensive rebound rate adds second-chance points, vital for a team 18th in offensive rating (112.7). A projected lineup of Giddey, LaVine, White, Patrick Williams, and Beringer could push Chicago’s pace and defense into the top 15, per Cleaning the Glass projections.
However, Beringer’s rawness poses challenges. His 50.0% EuroCup free-throw shooting and lack of perimeter game (0 three-point attempts) limit his offensive fit in a league valuing spacing (Chicago ranked 22nd in three-point attempt rate at 34.8%). His 234.8-pound frame struggles against physical centers like Joel Embiid, and his 1.6 offensive rebounds per game suggest room for growth in board-crashing. Chicago’s impatient front office, led by Artūras Karnišovas, may hesitate to develop a project when win-now pieces like Noa Essengue (6-foot-9 forward, 10.8 points, 40.5% 3PT) or Collin Murray-Boyles (6-foot-7 forward, defensive stalwart) offer immediate impact.
Risks and Rewards: A High-Upside Bet
Drafting Beringer at No. 12 carries significant upside but equal risk. His defensive tools—8.6% block rate, 1.4 steals per 36 minutes—place him among rare company, joining players like Nic Claxton and Jaxson Hayes since 2000 with elite measurables and event creation. His ability to guard in space (contains ball-handlers, 85th percentile in isolation defense) and protect the rim makes him a day-one deterrent, potentially elevating Chicago’s defense from 20th to top-10 in three years. If Beringer develops a 34% three-point shot or short-roll passing (0.3 assists per game show flashes), he could become a Jalen Duren-like starter by 2028.
Yet, his offensive limitations are stark. Beringer’s 4.9 points per game and 53.9% free-throw shooting scream “project,” and his lack of post moves or ball-handling (0.4 turnovers per game, low usage) caps his immediate impact. Chicago’s 9th-ranked payroll ($142 million) and luxury tax concerns may push for a ready-now prospect, as fans on X question the Bulls’ patience for a multi-year development. Beringer’s youth (turns 19 in November 2025) and inexperience (four years of basketball) amplify bust potential, akin to Jericho Sims, who plateaued as a role player. If Chicago passes on Essengue or Murray-Boyles, who offer two-way polish, and Beringer flops, the pick could haunt a franchise stuck in mediocrity since 2017.
The Bulls’ draft history—hitting on late picks like Ayo Dosunmu (No. 38, 2021) but missing on projects like Marques Bolden—suggests caution. However, Beringer’s green room invite and lottery buzz (some mocks project him top-10) signal NBA-wide belief in his ceiling. Chicago’s choice hinges on whether they trust Donovan’s staff to mold Beringer’s tools into a star or opt for safer prospects to appease a restless fanbase.
As the 2025 NBA Draft looms on June 25, 2025, the Chicago Bulls’ No. 12 pick could redefine their future, with Joan Beringer emerging as a high-risk, high-reward target. The 6-foot-11 French center’s elite measurables, defensive versatility, and rapid rise—from soccer player to Adriatic League shot-blocker—make him a tantalizing replacement for Nikola Vučević. His fit in Chicago’s fast-paced, defensive-needy system is undeniable, but his raw offense and inexperience demand patience the Bulls’ front office may lack. With alternatives like Noa Essengue and Collin Murray-Boyles in play, Beringer’s selection would signal a bold bet on upside over polish. As Bulls fans light up Facebook with draft fever, will Beringer be the steal of 2025 or a project too green for Chicago’s timeline? Share your predictions and join the draft-night buzz!