🔥 NBN Player of the Week: Fat Lever is Absolutely Unleashed

Listen, I've covered a lot of basketball in my day. I've seen players get hot, players get cold, and players who seem like they forgot which arena they were playing in. But what Fat Lever is doing right now for the New Orleans Pelicans isn't just hot — it's a full-blown inferno, baby.

This week, we're handing Fat Lever the NBN Player of the Week crown, and honestly? It almost feels too easy. The man is posting 31.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while shooting a slick 47.4% from the field and cranking out a True Shooting percentage of 58.6%. That efficiency, at that volume? We're talking historically good.

The Man, The Myth, The Lever

Let's put this in perspective for a second. The league average this season sits at 8.90 PPG, 4.56 RPG, and 1.98 APG. Fat's averaging 3.5x the scoring, nearly 1.5x the rebounds, and nearly 2x the assists of your typical NBN player. He's not just beating the average — he's demolishing it like the Pelicans demolished... well, whoever's in front of him lately.

Just glance at the recent results: the Wizards dropped 132 on Miami, the Lakers handed OKC a 33-point loss, and the Magic put up an absurd 143 points against Atlanta. Scoring is UP across the league, and right in the middle of this offensive explosion is good old number 74, doing his thing in New Orleans.

Where Does He Stack Among the Elites?

The top 5 scorers list reads like a who's-who of basketball royalty: Nate "Tiny" Archibald leads at 32.6, then Fat at 31.5, then Guy Rodgers (who's also dishing 9.4 dimes per game — absurd), Carmelo Anthony, and Kobe Bryant.

But here's the kicker: when you factor in rebounds, nobody in that top 5 group is pulling down boards like Lever's 6.6 per game. Tiny's got 4.6. Kobe's got 7.4, sure, but at 30.9 points. Fat's doing BOTH at elite levels while maintaining the second-best True Shooting percentage among the top five scorers. 58.6% TS trails only Carmelo's ridiculous 61.0% — and Melo is essentially a 7-foot scorer operating in a different role.

At 14 years of experience, Lever's not some wide-eyed rookie riding a hot streak. This is a seasoned vet who's been doing this for a long time and is now hitting his stride with the kind of consistency that wins fantasy leagues and makes opposing coaches want to throw their clipboards through the wall.

A Blast From the Past

Who does Fat Lever remind me of? Easy: A 1980s point-forward who decided shooting was actually pretty fun. He's got the rebounding instincts of a power forward, the vision of a floor general, and the green light of a pure scorer. Think of if Larry Bird decided to be a little less pass-first and a little more "let me cook." That's Lever right now.

The Pelicans' record speaks for itself — New Orleans is clicking on all cylinders, and Lever is the engine making it go. When your second-leading scorer (in terms of volume) is also your third-best rebounder and your third-best playmaker, you've got a roster that can beat you in so many different ways. Good luck game-planning for that.

What to Watch For

As we roll into the next stretch, keep your eyes on Lever's minutes and usage. If the Pelicans need him to carry even more of the offensive load, he can. If they need him to facilitate, he can do that too. The man's got 14 years of experience and a 6.6 rebound average — he's not fading down the stretch.

My hot take? Fat Lever finishes top 3 in MVP voting this season. You heard it here first. The Pelicans are for real, Lever is the motor, and if he keeps shooting at this efficiency while filling up the stat sheet like a madman, the rest of the NBN is going to be chasing New Orleans all year long.

Until next week, folks. Stay safe out there, and remember: when in doubt, go to the guy who's posting 31 and 7. Fat Lever for president.

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