Steve Aschburner

Senior writer, Photo-bombed Wilt, '97. Raised KG from a Timberpup.

[Steve Aschburner @AschNBA]

A scrum to be preserved years later in avatar fame on social media... https://t.co/yIJyoUKTus

[NBA History @NBAHistory]

Even 24 years after retiring from the @NBA Wilt Chamberlain commanded a huge media presence at #NBAAllStar (1997, @NBA at 50, Cleveland)

[NBA on ESPN @ESPNNBA]

Mitchell Robinson is available to play Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the Knicks announced.

[Steve Aschburner @AschNBA]

Good sign for the Knicks.

[Chris Mannix @SIChrisMannix]

Mitchell Robinson — well enough to shake hands with his injured one

[WiltStats @WiltStats]

A premier matchup in the 1967 NBA Finals: Nate Thurmond vs. Wilt Chamberlain.

Ahead of the series, Thurmond gave an assessment of Wilt’s evolution as a player:

“I’ve had a couple of good games against him this year. But, overall, Wilt probably has the edge over me. Wilt’s a lot tougher this year. The fact that he is passing more makes him a double threat.”

[Steve Aschburner @AschNBA]

@paulieknep When basketball writers had seats so good they could hear the game as well as see it.

[Steve Aschburner @AschNBA]

➕💯

[Jon Krawczynski @JonKrawczynski]

I’ve watched Scott go about this crazy business for a long time now and know him to be an honest, diligent, hardworking reporter who is in it for the right reasons. This doesn’t seem right at all.

[Steve Aschburner @AschNBA]

@DaveKerner @CHGO_WhiteSox You’re playing checkers.
White Sox are playing chess.
Opponents unfortunately are playing baseball.

[Steve Aschburner @AschNBA]

The FOMO crowd needs to resign itself to the fact that in Wilt’s case, YMO.
He happened before they were paying attention or even were around to do so. They either can learn and appreciate history for a change or they can keep following sports in denial.

[Andy Roth @arhooptalk]

No other human being could do this.
Just another reason why I constantly say he is Once In A Lifetime. MF Wilt

[Steve Aschburner @AschNBA]

@JonKrawczynski Recognize the questioner?

[Andy Roth @arhooptalk]

@PeterVecsey1 @WiltStats @NycRoundball He ruptured his patella tendon Nov 7 and returned in the regular season Mar 18. No other human being could do that. And in the 18 playoff games he averaged 47.2 mpg which included playing every minute of two overtime games. In just another way, he is Once In A Lifetime

[Peter Vecsey @PeterVecsey1]

@WiltStats @samnewkirk64 @NycRoundball So, Wilt returned for only three games at the end of the season b4 playing 18 in the playoffs. Incredible feat!!

[Steve Aschburner @AschNBA]

@DaveKerner @CHGO_WhiteSox I believe it used to be asbestos at the Metrodome.

[Steve Aschburner @AschNBA]

@JonKrawczynski Second game in Wolves franchise history was at Portland vs. Rick’s Blazers.

[Steve Aschburner @AschNBA]

@bill_dowhen @KARR_82 OK then, just so it’s not TWO a day. 🤨

[Steve Aschburner @AschNBA]

This is a blow.
Fitzy was a Fitz-ure on the Twin Cities sports scene (and a rabid NBA fan who found his way to many Finals). He wanted accountability, too, from the organizations, the coaches and the athletes there, rare many times for a radio guy so immersed in the local teams.

[Marcus R. Fitzgerald @ProfessorMFitz]

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr. A devoted father, husband, grandfather, and a true pioneer in the Minnesota broadcasting community, he spent his life pouring into the people and the city he loved so much.

He left us peacefully this afternoon, surrounded by his family and the people who loved him most.

We are so grateful for the incredible care and kindness shown by the team at the University of Minnesota Fairview Southdale Hospital during this time.
We ask that you keep our family in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate these first difficult days.

With love,

The Fitzgerald Family

[Peter Vecsey @PeterVecsey1]

@WiltStats @NycRoundball Everyone, and I mean everyone, knocks Wilt to this day for not dominating G7 v injured Willis (27 minutes, two baskets at the outset). Jerry West told me shortly before he died he was amazed Wilt played 18 playoff games after playing but 12 in regular season due to surgery.

[Steve Aschburner @AschNBA]

His story while he played there: "There's nothing to do and nowhere to go in the winter, so you stay in the gym and play basketball." Sold it as a good thing...

[SleeperTimberwolves @SleeperTWolves]

Stephon Marbury explaining why the icy winters was a reason he didn’t want to stay in Minnesota 😭

Via: The Old Man and the Three (TikTok)

[HoopsAnalyst @HoopsAnalyst]

In April 96, Steve Springer of the LA Times assessed with Bill Sharman how the 95-96 Bulls would do v the 71-72 Lakers. Springer thinks the Lakers win because the Bulls had no answer for Wilt: https://t.co/mInGlskIad

[WiltStats @WiltStats]

Wilt Chamberlain in the locker room after Game 6 of the 1970 NBA Finals, where his historic 45 points and 27 rebounds kept the Lakers alive to force Game 7 against the Knicks.

[Steve Aschburner @AschNBA]

Years ago I asked Bob Wolf, the Milwaukee Journal columnist who had been the newspaper's original beat writer, what it was like to cover Kareem during his Bucks stay.
Said Wolf: "I interviewed his back for six years."
So congrats, Peter, you got him at least to turn around.