A Night in Pictures: Fat Lever’s jersey retirement

For Lafayette “Fat” Lever, the thought of one day having a jersey with his name and number hanging in the rafters above the Pepsi Center never passed his mind.

“Never,” Lever said. “I didn’t even think about it.”

On Saturday night, in front of a sold-out crowd, the unimaginable became a reality for Lever. Joined by his family and friends, the Nuggets retired Lever’s jersey at halftime of the Nuggets’ victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, officially immortalizing him as one of the greatest players in franchise history.

Lever is the sixth Nuggets’ player to have his jersey retired as he is now joining fellow legends Byron Beck, David Thompson, Dan Issel, Alex English, and Dikembe Mutombo as well as coach Dough Moe. Known for his triple-doubles, Lever was ahead of his time and foreshadowed what the league is in the present day decades prior.

The Nuggets made the playoffs in all six seasons Lever played in Denver while he averaged 17 points, 7.6 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 2.4 steals per contest while etching his name in the record books as the team’s all-time leader in steals.

The moment bridged the gap between generations. In front of a jam-packed arena with fans of all ages and allegiances, Lever’s family and friends, Nuggets executives, and fellow running mate Alex English gathered around center court — overtop of the Nuggets’ 50th-year-anniversary logo nonetheless — to honor one of the best ever to wear a Nuggets’ uniform.

It made for a special moment that will last forever in the growing history of the franchise.

“It’s great,” Lever said. “The surprise of when it first happened is still there, and I’m still enjoying it.”

Here is a photo recap of Lever’s historic night captured by Aniello Piro of Mile High Sports.