Nathaniel Sweetwater Clifton became the first Black player to sign a contract in the NBA when he signed with the New York Knickerbockers in 1950. Having already played for the New York Rens and the Harlem Globetrotters, Clifton brought exceptional ball-handling skills and superb athleticism to New York, where he played for seven seasons, averaging a double-double in points and rebounds for two consecutive seasons and making the 1957 All-Star team.