Dave DeBusschere vs. Fat Lever Season by Season Comparison

Side by side comparison of each NBA season of Fat Lever and Dave DeBusschere, from their rookie seasons to their last year played, in chronological order with awards, stats, championships and playoff performance of their teams every year.

Player comparisons:
Career comparison / Season by season

Who had the better rookie season? Who had best stats in their 10th season? Who won a championship first? These questions and many others, are answered here.

Dave DeBusschere played 12 years in the NBA, 1 more than Fat Lever, who played 11. Dave DeBusschere had the first of his seasons in 1962-63, while Fat Lever had his rookie season in 1982-83. With that starting point, here you can take a look at each of their seasons side by side and compare how their careers evolved in achivements, awards and championships won, the stats they recorded both in the Regular Season and the Playoffs and how their teams performed in the postseason.

Their Careers

Player
Total Seasons Playoffs Played NBA Years
Dave DeBusschere 12 8 1962-63 to 1973-74
Fat Lever 11 8 1982-83 to 1993-94

Comparison Season by Season

Jump to season:
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12

Rookie Season

Dave DeBusschere Fat Lever
Season 1962-631982-83
Team Detroit PistonsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Rookie First Team-
Playoffs Pistons Lost West Div SemisTrail Blazers Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 80 29.4 12.7 - - 8.7 2.6 - - - 3.1 5.1 11.8 .430 - - - 2.6 3.6 .718
Fat Lever 81 24.9 7.8 1.0 1.7 2.8 5.3 1.9 0.2 1.7 2.2 3.2 7.3 .431 0.1 0.2 .333 1.4 2.0 .730
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 4 39.8 20.0 - - 15.8 1.5 - - - 3.5 6.3 14.8 .424 - - - 7.5 11.0 .682
Fat Lever 7 19.1 6.0 0.4 1.6 2.0 4.4 1.0 0.0 0.6 1.9 2.7 6.0 .452 0.0 0.0 - 0.6 0.7 .800

Season 2

Dave DeBusschere Fat Lever
Season 1963-641983-84
Team Detroit PistonsPortland Trail Blazers
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayTrail Blazers Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 15 20.3 8.6 - - 7.0 1.5 - - - 2.1 3.5 8.9 .391 - - - 1.7 2.9 .581
Fat Lever 81 24.8 9.7 1.2 1.5 2.7 4.6 1.7 0.4 1.5 2.2 3.9 8.7 .447 0.0 0.2 .200 2.0 2.6 .743
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere ------- --- ----------
Fat Lever 5 15.0 5.2 2.0 1.0 3.0 1.8 0.8 0.0 0.6 1.2 1.6 6.0 .267 0.4 0.6 .667 1.6 2.0 .800

Season 3

Dave DeBusschere Fat Lever
Season 1964-651984-85
Team Detroit PistonsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf Finals
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 79 35.1 16.7 - - 11.1 3.2 - - - 3.1 6.4 15.1 .425 - - - 3.9 5.5 .700
Fat Lever 82 31.2 12.8 1.8 3.2 5.0 7.5 2.5 0.4 2.5 2.8 5.2 12.0 .430 0.1 0.3 .250 2.4 3.1 .770
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere ------- --- ----------
Fat Lever 11 31.1 13.3 2.1 4.4 6.5 8.5 2.4 0.2 3.1 3.0 4.5 11.1 .402 0.0 0.2 .000 4.4 5.7 .762

Season 4

Dave DeBusschere Fat Lever
Season 1965-661985-86
Team Detroit PistonsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 79 34.1 16.4 - - 11.6 2.6 - - - 3.2 6.6 16.3 .408 - - - 3.2 4.8 .659
Fat Lever 78 33.5 13.8 1.7 3.6 5.4 7.5 2.3 0.2 2.7 2.6 6.0 13.6 .441 0.2 0.5 .316 1.7 2.3 .725
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere ------- --- ----------
Fat Lever 10 34.7 14.3 1.5 3.3 4.8 5.3 2.0 0.2 2.3 3.3 5.9 13.1 .450 0.8 1.4 .571 1.7 2.4 .708

Season 5

Dave DeBusschere Fat Lever
Season 1966-671986-87
Team Detroit PistonsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-NBA Second Team
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Did Not PlayNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 78 37.1 18.2 - - 11.8 2.8 - - - 3.8 6.8 16.4 .415 - - - 4.6 6.6 .705
Fat Lever 82 37.2 18.9 2.6 6.3 8.9 8.0 2.5 0.4 2.0 2.7 7.8 16.7 .469 0.3 1.1 .239 3.0 3.8 .782
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere ------- --- ----------
Fat Lever 3 33.0 15.3 1.7 4.3 6.0 7.3 2.3 0.0 0.7 2.3 6.3 16.7 .380 0.7 2.7 .250 2.0 3.0 .667

Season 6

Dave DeBusschere Fat Lever
Season 1967-681987-88
Team Detroit PistonsDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards -Achievement All-Defensive Second Team
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs Pistons Lost East Div SemisNuggets Lost West Conf Semis
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 80 39.1 17.9 - - 13.5 2.3 - - - 3.8 7.2 16.2 .442 - - - 3.6 5.4 .664
Fat Lever 82 37.3 18.9 2.5 5.6 8.1 7.8 2.7 0.3 2.2 2.6 7.8 16.6 .473 0.1 0.7 .211 3.0 3.9 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 6 43.8 19.3 - - 16.2 2.2 - - - 3.8 7.5 17.7 .425 - - - 4.3 7.5 .578
Fat Lever 7 39.0 17.0 2.3 7.0 9.3 7.0 1.9 0.6 0.6 2.1 6.4 14.0 .459 0.4 1.0 .429 3.7 4.7 .788

Season 7

Dave DeBusschere Fat Lever
Season 1968-691988-89
Team Detroit Pistons, New York KnicksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-NBA Second Team-
Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Div FinalsNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 76 38.7 16.3 - - 11.7 2.5 - - - 3.8 6.7 15.0 .444 - - - 3.0 4.3 .698
Fat Lever 71 38.7 19.8 2.6 6.7 9.3 7.9 2.7 0.3 2.2 2.5 7.9 17.2 .457 0.3 0.9 .348 3.8 4.8 .785
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 10 41.9 16.3 - - 14.8 3.3 - - - 4.3 6.1 17.4 .351 - - - 4.1 5.0 .820
Fat Lever 2 29.0 11.0 1.0 5.5 6.5 9.5 2.0 0.0 3.0 2.0 4.5 12.0 .375 1.0 1.5 .667 1.0 1.0 1.000

Season 8

Dave DeBusschere Fat Lever
Season 1969-701989-90
Team New York KnicksDenver Nuggets
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star GameAchievement All-Star Game
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionNuggets Lost West Conf 1st Rd
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 79 33.3 14.6 - - 10.0 2.5 - - - 3.1 6.2 13.7 .451 - - - 2.2 3.2 .688
Fat Lever 79 35.8 18.3 2.9 6.4 9.3 6.5 2.1 0.2 2.0 2.2 7.2 16.2 .443 0.5 1.1 .414 3.4 4.3 .804
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 19 36.9 16.1 - - 11.6 2.4 - - - 3.3 6.8 16.3 .421 - - - 2.4 3.6 .662
Fat Lever 3 37.7 17.3 3.7 7.0 10.7 7.0 2.7 0.3 1.7 2.3 6.3 17.0 .373 0.3 2.3 .143 4.3 4.7 .929

Season 9

Dave DeBusschere Fat Lever
Season 1970-711990-91
Team New York KnicksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 81 35.7 15.6 - - 11.1 2.7 - - - 2.9 6.5 15.3 .421 - - - 2.7 3.9 .696
Fat Lever 4 21.5 7.3 0.8 3.0 3.8 3.0 1.5 0.8 2.5 1.3 2.3 5.8 .391 0.0 0.8 .000 2.8 3.5 .786
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 12 40.7 16.4 - - 13.0 1.8 - - - 3.3 7.0 16.8 .416 - - - 2.4 3.7 .659
Fat Lever ------- --- ----------

Season 10

Dave DeBusschere Fat Lever
Season 1971-721991-92
Team New York KnicksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost NBA FinalsDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 80 38.4 15.4 - - 11.3 3.6 - - - 2.7 6.5 15.2 .427 - - - 2.4 3.3 .728
Fat Lever 31 28.5 11.2 1.8 3.4 5.2 3.5 1.5 0.4 1.2 2.4 4.4 11.3 .387 0.5 1.7 .327 1.9 2.6 .750
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 16 38.5 16.6 - - 12.1 2.3 - - - 3.2 6.8 15.1 .450 - - - 3.0 4.0 .750
Fat Lever ------- --- ----------

Note: Fat Lever didn't play in 1992-93.

Season 11

Dave DeBusschere Fat Lever
Season 1972-731993-94
Team New York KnicksDallas Mavericks
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs NBA Champion NBA ChampionDid Not Play
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 77 36.7 16.3 - - 10.2 3.4 - - - 2.8 6.9 15.9 .435 - - - 2.5 3.4 .746
Fat Lever 81 24.0 6.9 1.0 2.5 3.5 2.6 2.0 0.2 1.1 1.9 2.8 6.9 .408 0.3 0.9 .351 0.9 1.2 .765
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 17 37.2 15.6 - - 10.5 3.4 - - - 3.4 6.9 15.6 .442 - - - 1.8 2.4 .775
Fat Lever ------- --- ----------

Season 12

Dave DeBusschere Fat Lever
Season 1973-74-
Team New York Knicks-
Honors & Awards Achievement All-Defensive First Team-
Achievement All-Star Game-
Playoffs Knicks Lost East Conf Finals-
more >>
Regular Season Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 71 38.0 18.1 1.9 8.8 10.7 3.6 0.9 0.5 - 3.1 7.9 17.1 .461 - - - 2.3 3.1 .756
Fat Lever ------- --- ----------
Playoffs Stats
G Min Pts ORb DRb Reb Ast Stl Blk TO PF FGM / A % 3PM / A % FTM / A %
Dave DeBusschere 12 33.7 12.0 2.1 6.2 8.3 3.2 0.6 0.3 - 3.0 5.3 13.8 .380 - - - 1.5 2.4 .621
Fat Lever ------- --- ----------