By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Minnesota Timberwolves introduced their new roster during preseason media day on Monday. Following a summer of major trades, the team is focusing on chemistry early. They want to survive a tough Western Conference.
In August, Rudy Gobert organized a team trip to Paris. The French star noted that teammates paid for their own plane tickets to fly to Europe in the summer. To him, that action proved their dedication to winning.
“For a lot of guys, it was their first time overseas,” he mentioned. “The court work, building chemistry, but also just getting to know each other.”
“When the adversity comes during the season,” added Gobert. “Teams that overcome this adversity are the teams that are the closest together.”
Championship standard
That bond must sustain the group through the 2026–27 NBA Regular Season. Head coach Chris Finch warned the players that a single loss can ruin playoff seeding. Gobert agreed that daily habits matter immediately.
“It’s about setting championship standards, which is just our approach every single day,” stated the 34-year-old big. “We know how one game, one rebound, or one shot can define the whole season. So we have to keep that in mind.”
He believes leading by example is better than shouting. He emphasized ‘talk is cheap’ in an NBA locker room. The veteran center shapes culture by working on his body and mind daily.
Joan Beringer growth
Young players are watching closely. Joan Beringer, a fellow Frenchman, made big strides this summer. Gobert joked that his teammate’s English is so good now that he does not need a French translator anymore.
“You can tell he’s more poised physically,” the Saint-Quentin native said of the young prospect. “We’re going to need him to impact winning. I know that he can really impact winning on both ends.”
Beringer detailed what coaches expect from him to earn minutes.
“Last season I had some games when I just did so many fouls,” accepted the fellow French big, recalling a game where he fouled out. “I just learned how to manage my efforts on the court and be smarter on defense.”
Lyles capitalizes on EuroLeague stint
Forward Trey Lyles is back in North America. He spent last year in Spain playing in the EuroLeague for Real Madrid. “Something new,” he described the experience. “After a month or two, I think my goal was to play well enough to be able to come back to the NBA, and that’s what happened.”
Furthermore, Italian Donte DiVincenzo offered a health update five months after tearing his Achilles tendon. “As things progress, your confidence gains,” he explained. “The biggest thing I think that I’ve learned through this whole thing is the mental battle of everything, and just coming in every single day and winning the mental battle, and the physical takes care of itself.”
Preseason games are up next. Once those end, the Wolves start the Regular Season on October 21. Minnesota plays its opening game on the road against the Miami Heat.
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