Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton is one of the most influential figures to ever pick up a basketball, but most fans of the game would not know his name today.
The former Harlem Globetrotters stand-out made history on May 24, 1950 when he signed a contract with the New York Knicks. By doing so, he became the second Black player to ever secure a deal with an NBA team. Six months later, he made his debut with the franchise, becoming the second Black player to appear in NBA action.
Clifton didn’t simply sign a deal with the Knicks. In his first season, he helped the Knicks reach the NBA Finals for the first time in team history. Through eight seasons with the team, he averaged 10 points and nine rebounds per game. He also earned an appearance in the 1957 NBA All-Star Game, scoring eight points. Ultimately, he was traded to the Pistons later that year and retired after one season with the franchise.
More than 60 years after completing his NBA career, Clifton will make his way to Hollywood as the focus of a new feature film called Sweetwater. Led by Everett Osborne, the Briarcliff Entertainment project will tell the story of Clifton’s career as he reshaped the trajectory of the Knicks, NBA and basketball scene in New York.
The historic story will hit theaters on April 14, 2023. Check out the trailer below.
