Fat Lever: The Best NBA Point Guard you’ve NEVER HEARD OF | FPP

Поділитися
Вставка
  • Опубліковано 20 січ 2025
  • He’s become one of the most under the radar players in NBA history; one that’s never talked about when it comes to the best 80s point guards, or the greatest stat sheet stuffers in NBA history. Lafayette “Fat” Lever retired with the 5th most triple doubles of all time and had one of the best, yet least talked about 4 year stretches of any player in NBA history. He was an Arizona basketball legend starting at Pueblo High School to spending 4 years with the Arizona State Sun Devils; playing alongside future NBA Players like Alton Lister and Byron Scott. He started in the NBA with the Post Bill Walton Portland Trailblazers and was a promising young player alongside Clyde Drexler. But in the summer of 1984, the Nuggets would trade Kiki Vandeweghe to the Blazers and in return the Blazers received Fat Lever among others. So Lever would spend the next 6 years alongside Alex English as one of the Leaders of the 80s run n gun Denver Nuggets. But as Michael Adams emerged, the Nuggets decided to go in another direction in the early 90s. They would trade Lever to Dallas where he would join forces with Rolando Blackman and Derek Harper. But Chronic knee issues caught up to him, and he could barely stay on the court in Dallas; and when he was on the court, he was not the same player. His career ended quietly in 1994 at the age of 33, and do this day, his career is largely overlooked, which is baffling, as Fat Lever did everything on offense, and was one of the best defenders in the league, as he would even finish top 10 in MVP and Defensive Player of the year voting on multiple occasions, and that’s deserves some recognition.
    www.basketball...
    www.statmuse.com/
    Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
    uppbeat.io/t/g...
    License code: KM6PUEOIEPBY9PST
    *Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use. No copyright infringement intended. ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS

КОМЕНТАРІ • 103

  • @lrod2004
    @lrod2004 6 місяців тому +14

    Byron Scott would be cool to highlight. Great vids!!!

  • @rajiemseabrook347
    @rajiemseabrook347 6 місяців тому +10

    Nice work on a great forgotten player. Love your work!! My son is getting his nba history lesson on this channel and I get a nostalgic look back at my youth!!
    Please consider
    Robert Parrish
    Lisa Leslie
    Rony Seikly
    Rik Smits
    Antonio or dale Davis

  • @jaidamann8365
    @jaidamann8365 6 місяців тому +9

    Fat Lever visited my college basketball team when I was a young freshman. First thing we notice is how short he was. But, he was an outstanding guard for Denver.

  • @edhuff2087
    @edhuff2087 6 місяців тому +13

    I'm glad the nuggets put his number and name in Retirement in team history. As a nuggets fan and a kid the 80 nuggets were fun to watch. The nugget needs to do Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf next

  • @cedricscaggs1409
    @cedricscaggs1409 6 місяців тому +5

    Fat Lever was the man in Denver in the 80 s 20 th st Gym was famous for great hooping not anybody could get in and play there you had to be good to play thanks for the memories Fat blessings man

  • @dionysise5008
    @dionysise5008 6 місяців тому +17

    I always have Lever as my starting point guard when I assemble the all time Denver squad.

    • @DanMarin-lf7fe
      @DanMarin-lf7fe 6 місяців тому +5

      U better have Abdul Rauf in there somewhere too

  • @17thN.O
    @17thN.O 6 місяців тому +18

    I remember seeing Fat Lever advance kid and saying to myself "he doesn't look fat to me". Hahahahaha I'm glad to learn the story behind the name. I was sure it had something to do with his name Lafayette (being from Louisiana a lot of schools and places and things are named Lafayette).

  • @DanMarin-lf7fe
    @DanMarin-lf7fe 6 місяців тому +13

    7:38 please do a video on Kiki Vandeweghe

  • @iceill3425
    @iceill3425 6 місяців тому +33

    He's another one of those guys that were decent in his era but would be great in today's game

    • @Ballinbmac
      @Ballinbmac 6 місяців тому +2

      Great is a stretch

    • @kenw2225
      @kenw2225 5 місяців тому +2

      Nah, not a stretch.

    • @Ballinbmac
      @Ballinbmac 5 місяців тому +1

      @@kenw2225 it’s a stretch he would be exactly what he was during his own era

    • @jasonelliott7977
      @jasonelliott7977 Місяць тому

      There were just so many good or great players during this era

    • @iceill3425
      @iceill3425 Місяць тому

      @@Ballinbmac you must me a youngster that thinks this Ringling Brothers circus shit the NBA is doing now, is called "balling" lol

  • @zeke3388
    @zeke3388 5 місяців тому +5

    The man almost had a quadruple double on MJ's head in '88...💪

  • @CHUNDOE
    @CHUNDOE 6 місяців тому +24

    He look like Skip To My Lou honestly

  • @markjackson6431
    @markjackson6431 6 місяців тому +7

    Bob Lanier NEEDS a video

  • @RM---
    @RM--- 6 місяців тому +3

    Love the channel bro, can you please do a video on Travis Outlaw or Maurice Cheeks?

  • @dennisjones9670
    @dennisjones9670 6 місяців тому +9

    Best channel out !!!!!!!!!

  • @devanterowe
    @devanterowe 6 місяців тому +29

    The old school Westbrook

    • @andrewtesmer7021
      @andrewtesmer7021 6 місяців тому +5

      Perfect description

    • @dsp_91
      @dsp_91 6 місяців тому +4

      You beat me to it

    • @nocturne311
      @nocturne311 2 місяці тому

      Nah. If anyone was the old school Westbrook it was Kevin Johnson. Fat Lever was like a more high octane version of prime Rondo.

    • @keithandrew2705
      @keithandrew2705 25 днів тому

      He's better than westbrick.

  • @usmc29er44
    @usmc29er44 6 місяців тому +8

    Fat Lever was automatic from 3 on Sega Genesis Lakers Vs. Celtics!

    • @sostdm617
      @sostdm617 6 місяців тому +3

      Lol that's throwback he sure was

    • @jayjohnson7646
      @jayjohnson7646 6 місяців тому +1

      Fat dope and really good on nba 2k as well.

  • @stluka1
    @stluka1 6 місяців тому +1

    You do such a great job with these vids man. Love the content you provide!

  • @kennygreen6673
    @kennygreen6673 6 місяців тому +1

    keep these vids coming first heard of fat lever he was a beast at point guard love watching players I never heard of

  • @marcusleary8571
    @marcusleary8571 6 місяців тому +2

    Been waiting for this one

  • @hubertsumlin9697
    @hubertsumlin9697 6 місяців тому +1

    Your channel is awesome

  • @unappealingundesirable2826
    @unappealingundesirable2826 6 місяців тому +8

    I was born in Seattle in 1973, where I grew up. Sonics and Blazers fan. Japanese-American and male. Could Fat Levy dunk? I was a STIFF, who didn't have cable TV growing up, so I was relegated to Sonics road games, and national TV games. Blazers fans rue the Kiki Vandeweghe trade, and Lever is the key reason why.

  • @WVF112469
    @WVF112469 5 місяців тому +1

    Lafayette and Alton Lister were a force to be reconned with at ASU.

  • @perfectblue8443
    @perfectblue8443 5 місяців тому +2

    Wow to think that Fat Lever and Clyde the Glide were on the same team at some point, they could have gone far

  • @1roundleft821
    @1roundleft821 6 місяців тому +4

    Imagine Prime Lever and Drexler 😮

  • @j-mac7401
    @j-mac7401 6 місяців тому +3

    Charles Oakley and Michael Cage would be 2 players to make a episode on..

  • @Rockhead84
    @Rockhead84 5 місяців тому

    Finally learned the origins of his name. Thank you. Wild he was a triple double machine!

  • @handsomeX
    @handsomeX 6 місяців тому +2

    I didn't realize he retired that young.

  • @perfectblue8443
    @perfectblue8443 5 місяців тому +3

    Imagine what Fat Lever would do today

  • @darrylnelson05
    @darrylnelson05 6 місяців тому +2

    Lafayette "Fat" Lever. He played with Byron Scott at ASU.

  • @DONTOURAGETV
    @DONTOURAGETV 6 місяців тому +1

    He was a beast

  • @deontae777
    @deontae777 6 місяців тому +1

    so I’m a Phoenix Arizona resident. I’m at the gym where i work/workout and see someone on their phone in the empty basketball courts. I wanted to shoot some free pillows, but didn’t want to be too loud as he was on his phone shortly. He and I spoke and I had no idea who he was for our whole conversation. we started talking about Arizona basketball legends ( which are so little) I said multiple people except FAT LEVER to his face ! he tells me to look up number 12 in the rafters . i didn’t find his info or even put 2 and 2 together. im watching a mavs and nuggets game then outta nowhere he joins there broadcast team ! he looked so different from his playing days . the guy is so lowkey but a true nice guy. AZ in the house !!

  • @natureboy1313
    @natureboy1313 6 місяців тому

    Great channel. Recently subscribed.
    Here is a great forgotten player.....Dan Roundfield.

  • @CliffPierson777
    @CliffPierson777 6 місяців тому +2

    Lever and English went from Denver to Dallas and just kinda disappeared in Dallas.

  • @afterhighschoolshow3369
    @afterhighschoolshow3369 6 місяців тому

    This was a great video! also could we get a new football forgetten player video?

  • @timhall5382
    @timhall5382 6 місяців тому

    Not only have I heard of fat, he was one of my favorites.

  • @lashgoshotwheels1127
    @lashgoshotwheels1127 6 місяців тому +1

    Thank you 😊

  • @Syzygy88
    @Syzygy88 5 місяців тому

    Pueblo high finest!! 🔥🔥

  • @eugenedantzler4485
    @eugenedantzler4485 6 місяців тому

    I never heard of him at all!!!! This shall be good!!!

  • @alwayskul
    @alwayskul 13 днів тому

    Imagine having to go against a backcourt of Fat Lever and Byron Scott at Arizona State. That had to give you nightmares.

  • @ljerns2167
    @ljerns2167 6 місяців тому +1

    He and Adam’s together was a problem! You could say his play helped Adam’s become a big time scorer

    • @MultilinguistGlobalFitBlessed
      @MultilinguistGlobalFitBlessed 6 місяців тому

      WTF it’s going on with modern society? It’s ADAMS, not ADAM’S. Plural, not possessive! WHY ARE YOU PUTTING THAT IN A LAST NAME?! That’s even worse. Stop being mentally lazy, ignorant and uneducated! IT’S NOT A FCUKING FLEX! People are writing NOBODY’S instead of NOBODIES. CANDY’S instead of CANDIES. Etc. Michael ADAMS is his name. Not ADAM’S, which would be brainless to think. EDUCATE YOURSELF.. Be better.

    • @MultilinguistGlobalFitBlessed
      @MultilinguistGlobalFitBlessed 6 місяців тому

      ADAMS, not ADAM’S. It’s a last name. You’re not describing something using the possessive form of APOSTROPHE PLUS S

    • @zztv15
      @zztv15 5 місяців тому

      Yes them Nuggets used to put up big numbers

  • @lilpenny1982
    @lilpenny1982 6 місяців тому

    Underrated player

  • @JaycenAmour
    @JaycenAmour 3 місяці тому

    When are you doing Sean Elliott?

  • @ZPMBTV
    @ZPMBTV 6 місяців тому +1

    Real Hittaz Know Lafayette

  • @BigGameJames2288
    @BigGameJames2288 6 місяців тому

    Walking triple double, its crazy I was gonna ask you to do a video of him because nooooo one knows how good he was

  • @Александар-о3ч
    @Александар-о3ч 6 місяців тому

    Great player!

  • @lanceparker4796
    @lanceparker4796 6 місяців тому

    He was a solid player.

  • @justinbevins203
    @justinbevins203 6 місяців тому

    This man should have been the starter of the team that faced the Suns. That season, HE alone in that first round could have won the match up.

  • @JoshDin4Real
    @JoshDin4Real 6 місяців тому +2

    First comment! Great video! First viewer too

  • @kenyontucker6469
    @kenyontucker6469 6 місяців тому +2

    I know Fat Lever!

  • @perfectblue8443
    @perfectblue8443 5 місяців тому

    Can you make a video on Michael Adams please

  • @micdagreat1
    @micdagreat1 5 місяців тому

    I wonder if Rafer "Skip To My Lou" Alston was influenced by Fat Lever. They have a similar style and he has the same jersey number.

  • @MrBez007
    @MrBez007 6 місяців тому

    Great player and with jason kid one of best rebounding guards. Playing in an era when a triple double actualy meant something. Not taking away from westbrook but getting a triple in the days of bigs was way way tougher.

    • @MultilinguistGlobalFitBlessed
      @MultilinguistGlobalFitBlessed 6 місяців тому +1

      Jason KIDD, not *Kid

    • @EricKoonitsky-bd3hl
      @EricKoonitsky-bd3hl 5 місяців тому

      Yes and no. Playing for those Nuggets teams kind of cancels out the era adjustment. There were insane amounts of possessions and numbers to go around.

  • @kincamell2
    @kincamell2 6 місяців тому +3

    Hall of Fame stats.

  • @sk1b-m244
    @sk1b-m244 6 місяців тому

    Danny Ainge is a real shady player on this channel. A sort of main character in the background in many videos. :)

  • @CraigGinJ
    @CraigGinJ 6 місяців тому +1

    💯

  • @DanMarin-lf7fe
    @DanMarin-lf7fe 6 місяців тому

    2:01 lmao howd he get both of them to bite that hard

  • @jasonic-ks2tm
    @jasonic-ks2tm 6 місяців тому +1

    Blue edwards, Rick fox

  • @jonathanscrutchensYT
    @jonathanscrutchensYT 6 місяців тому

    Did you do Sean Eliott

  • @StoneGone
    @StoneGone 6 місяців тому

    Drexler was drafted in 1983.

  • @leonzaduncan2438
    @leonzaduncan2438 6 місяців тому

    What if the Rockets traded Sampson to Portland for Lever, Drexler and no.2 pick( Jordan)

  • @WSNight-
    @WSNight- 5 місяців тому

    Hall of fame

  • @jasonic-ks2tm
    @jasonic-ks2tm 6 місяців тому

    Lamond murray?

  • @shellztalk
    @shellztalk 6 місяців тому

    A good player for you to do next is Marcus Thorton dude averaged 20 ppg one year 18 ppg the next then fell off

  • @JosephMiller-gh6mv
    @JosephMiller-gh6mv Місяць тому

    They didn't have U-Tube yet so a lot it was who the reporters wrote about , English got the press and really English is known to true basketball fans but some may go who and Fat was on a team not getting talked about now if he had been the point for the Celtics he would've talked about more and his career was over when he hit his prime a player in all sports don't hit their primes until 31 to 35 and then they start to decline but some still went by 29 time to trade them or retire because sports medicine and training was still becoming what we know today , think Wilt , Doc , Bird , Magic knowing the training today back then and Fat with Surgery and recovery he may have played much longer and been remember much better

  • @mikea2138
    @mikea2138 5 місяців тому +1

    He Reminds me of rafer alston

  • @callmekobe..4onmeeee862
    @callmekobe..4onmeeee862 6 місяців тому

    Josh smith ..Joe dumars ..Kiki vandewghe

  • @briizy300
    @briizy300 6 місяців тому

    Who allowed the most points his 1st season in Denver

  • @Opticprizm
    @Opticprizm 5 місяців тому

    Oh yeah i know about Lafayette Lever

  • @justinbevins203
    @justinbevins203 6 місяців тому

    1 more thing! Ask Russ if he doesn't know how this MAN is?

  • @danwellington4214
    @danwellington4214 6 місяців тому +1

    only player to avg 14 6 6 & 2 steals for a career

  • @MultilinguistGlobalFitBlessed
    @MultilinguistGlobalFitBlessed 6 місяців тому +1

    Denver improved their defense after some offense heavy years ‼️ 13:45- YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE not one, not two, but THREE Nuggets candidates for DPOY‼️ And Lever was THIRD out of the 3‼️

  • @Castallano27
    @Castallano27 6 місяців тому +2

    Look like rafer Alston dad