Before Mike or Lebron even had a chance there was Sweetwater and he was a New York Knick first.

Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton (October 13, 1922 – August 31, 1990) was an American multi-sport athlete best known as the first African American to sign a contract to play in the National Basketball Association.

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, according to the Social Security Administration death records, he was born Clifton Nathaniel. He was given the “Sweetwater” nickname as a boy because of his love of soft drinks. His family moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he became an outstanding baseball player in high school. However, it was basketball in which Clifton would make his mark. He attended Xavier University of Louisiana and then served with the United States Army, fighting for his country in Europe during World War II.

After the war, Sweetwater Clifton joined the New York Rens, an all-black professional basketball team that toured throughout the United States. Noted for his large hands, which required a size 14 glove, after one season he was invited to join the Harlem Globetrotters with which he would play from the fall of 1947 to the spring of 1950. Still a talented baseball first baseman, during the basketball off-season in 1949 Clifton played for the Chicago American Giants in Negro League baseball. By 1950, his performance with the Globetrotters, in particular his exceptional ball handling ability, led to his becoming the first African American player to sign a contract with an NBA team.

Already 27 when he made his debut as a member of the New York Knicks, in his first season Clifton helped lead the team to its first-ever appearance in the NBA finals. During his eight seasons in the NBA, Clifton averaged 10 points and 9 rebounds per game. He was named to the 1957 NBA All-Star team, scoring 8 points in 23 minutes in the game. At age 34, he became the oldest player in NBA history to be named an All-Star.

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