Fat Lever, born Lafayette Lever, is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 11 seasons. He was born on August 18, 1960, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and attended Pines Bluff High School before enrolling at Arizona State University.
Lever played college basketball at Arizona State University from 1978 to 1982. During his college career, he was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection and was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year in 1982. He finished his college career as the school's all-time leader in assists and steals.
Lever was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the 1982 NBA draft. He played for the Trail Blazers for two seasons before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in 1984. It was with the Nuggets that Lever had the most success in his NBA career.
Lever played for the Nuggets from 1984 to 1990 and was a key player on the team during that time. He was known for his versatility and was one of the best all-around players in the league. He was a two-time All-Star and was named to the All-NBA Second Team in 1987 and 1988.
During his time with the Nuggets, Lever was a triple-double machine. He recorded 43 triple-doubles during his career, which is still the ninth-most in NBA history. He also led the league in steals in 1987 and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1987 and 1988.
Lever was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in 1990 and played for them for two seasons before being traded to the New Jersey Nets in 1992. He played for the Nets for one season before retiring from the NBA in 1994.
After retiring from the NBA, Lever worked as a color commentator for the Nuggets and also worked in player development for the Sacramento Kings. In 2013, he was inducted into the Pac-12 Hall of Honor.
Overall, Fat Lever had a successful NBA career and was one of the best all-around players of his time. He was a triple-double machine and was known for his versatility and defensive prowess. While he may not be a household name, he was a key player on some very good Nuggets teams and was a fan favorite in Denver.
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