Jackie Robinson famously shattered baseball's color barrier when he took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers on Opening Day, 1947. Three years later, in 1950, three pioneers would help integrate the National Basketball Association when Chuck Cooper became the first African-American player drafted into the NBA, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton became the first African-American to sign an NBA contract, and Earl Lloyd became the first African-American to appear in an NBA game. Later, all three men would rightfully be enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. 

Power forward Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton helped break the NBA's color barrier when he became the first African-American to sign an NBA contract on May 24, 1950, remaining in the NBA until conclusion of the 1957-58 season. The presented approx. 6.5" x 9" photograph depicts Clifton in action with the Knicks at Madison Square Garden during a matchup with the Milwaukee Hawks (now the Atlanta Hawks). A classic shot from beneath the rim, captured with flash photography, Clifton is reaching for the ball while surrounded by Milwaukee defenders. Subtly off-white photo remains in superb overall condition with sharp corners and full paper caption on reverse. A fresh-to-the-hobby example, hailing directly from the collection of former official NBA historian (1995-02), Mr. Bill Himmelman. Authenticated and encapsulated as a Type 1 photo by PSA/DNA.