Hoops Habit
Fansided

Denver Nuggets: 25 Best Players To Play For The Nuggets

By Phil Watson

Mar 8, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the Denver Nuggets logo on the floor prior to the game between the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 8, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of the Denver Nuggets logo on the floor prior to the game between the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
19 of 26
Next
DENVER, CO- 1987: Fat Lever #12 of the Denver Nuggets makes a layup during a game in the 1987 -1988 NBA Season. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 1988 NBAE (Photo by: Mike Powell/NBAE/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO- 1987: Fat Lever #12 of the Denver Nuggets makes a layup during a game in the 1987 -1988 NBA Season.  Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright 1988 NBAE (Photo by: Mike Powell/NBAE/Getty Images) /

73. <strong>How acquired: </strong>Trade, Portland Trail Blazers, June 7, 1984.. PG-SG. 1984-90. Fat Lever . 8. player

The Denver Nuggets landed two future All-Stars in a June 1984 trade in which they acquired Calvin Natt, Fat Lever, Wayne Cooper, a second-round pick in 1984 and a first-round selection in 1985 from the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Kiki Vandeweghe.

Lever—who was born Lafayette Lever—was the second of the two.

DEN_08_LEVER
DEN_08_LEVER /

He took over the point guard job upon arrival in Denver, but he became a two-time All-Star after moving to shooting guard in 1987.

Lever was an All-NBA pick in 1986-87 and an All-Defensive selection in 1987-88, finishing third in the NBA in steals in 1984-85 and fourth in both 1987-88 and 1988-89.

In June 1990, he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for first-round picks in 1990 and 1991.

In six seasons with the Nuggets, Lever averaged 17 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.5 steals in 35.6 minutes per game, shooting .454/.305/.780.

Taken by Portland with the 11th overall pick out of Arizona State in the 1982 NBA Draft, Lever missed the majority of three seasons in Dallas with knee problems and retired after his release in September 1994.

He is 23rd in NBA history with 1,666 steals, 45th with an average of 6.2 assists per game and sixth with an average of 2.2 steals per game.

Next: The Camby Man Could, Did

Home/Denver Nuggets