Player of the Week: Fat Lever Is Proving That Vintage Never Goes Out of Style

Friends, let me introduce you to the most dangerous man in the NBN right now: Fat Lever of the New Orleans Pelicans. And no, that nickname isn't ironic—the man is absolutely loading this season like he's got a grudge against the rim.

With a stat line reading 31.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, Lever isn't just scoring—he's conducting a full symphony of destruction every single night. The Pelicans have been rolling lately, and watching Lever operate is like watching a chef with eight different knives. He can score from anywhere, crash the boards like a guard possessed, and still find open teammates when defenses collapse on him. Chef's kiss.

The Efficiency Argument (Yes, We're Going There)

Here's where things get spicy: Lever's True Shooting percentage of 64.5% isn't just good—it's elite. Among the top five scorers in the NBN, nobody comes close to that number. Nate "Tiny" Archibald (who, by the way, is no slouch himself at 31.1 PPG) sits at 60.6% TS. Rashard Lewis at 61.9%. Richard Jefferson at a mere 57.9%.

What does this mean? Fat Lever is getting his buckets and doing it without wasting possessions. He's not chucking—he's carving. The man has a 47.7% field goal percentage to go with those 31.6 points, which means he's not living at the free throw line or jacking up low-percentage bombs. He's just... cooking.

Where He Fits in the Scorer's Race

The top five scorers in the NBN are essentially a murderer's row this season, and Lever sits at the apex of that mountain. Compare his numbers:

He's not just leading—he's separated himself. That 0.5 PPG gap over Tiny Archibald might not sound huge, but ask any fantasy GM: when you're averaging 31.6 points with that efficiency, you're in MVP conversation territory.

Historical Comparison: The Second Coming of...?

Watching Lever play, you get flashes of something special. The rebounding from the guard spot? That's a young Jason Kidd vibe. The scoring instinct and ability to get buckets whenever he wants? That's Larry Bird energy, minus the shorts. But honestly? Fat Lever is carving his own lane. He's a point-forward before that was a thing, a scoring engine who doesn't need 20 shots to get his 30. He's the kind of player whose highlights you rewind five times just to see how he created the angle.

At 14 years of experience, Lever has the wisdom to know when to attack and when to distribute. That's rare. That's valuable. That's championship-caliber production.

What to Watch For

The Pelicans are trending up, and with Lever operating at peak efficiency, this team could make serious noise. If he keeps this scoring pace while maintaining that otherworldly TS%, he's not just a Player of the Week—he's a legitimate MVP favorite.

Keep your eyes on Lever. The man is on a mission, and the rest of the NBN should be nervous.

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