Last Updated on April 14, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Here is the information on Nat Clifton:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born October 13, 1922 – Passed away August 31, 1990 (aged 67)
  • Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 8 inches (2.03 meters)
  • Weight: 225 pounds (102 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 9 inches
  • Shoe Size: Size 16 (US)
  • Number: Wore #24 and #8 during his basketball career
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • High School: DuSable High School (Chicago, Illinois)
  • College: Xavier University of Louisiana (historically black university)
  • NBA Draft: Not drafted; joined the NBA in 1950 when the New York Knicks purchased his contract from the Harlem Globetrotters
  • Teams Played For:
    • New York Knicks (1950–1957)
    • Detroit Pistons (1957–1958)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: Not publicly documented
  • Siblings: Not publicly documented

Nat Clifton’s player archetype was that of a power wing big, an athletic forward who blended interior strength with open-floor mobility and gave teams rebounding, finishing, and rugged two-way play in an era when versatility in the frontcourt already mattered. At roughly 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds, he had a broad, powerful frame and the kind of physical presence that made him well suited to a defensive role as a body-up forward who could battle on the glass, absorb contact, and handle tough assignments near the lane. Offensively, Clifton worked best as a secondary scorer and play-finishing frontcourt option rather than a hub offense creator, using strength, movement, and feel to score around the basket, run the floor, and complement higher-usage teammates. His overall play style was forceful, mobile, and unselfish, combining rebounding, interior toughness, and enough athletic skill to make him a valuable all-around forward as well as a historic NBA pioneer. (Basketball Reference)

Sources:
Basketball-Reference — Nat Clifton Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame — Nat Clifton
NBA.com — Nat Clifton | Center | New York Knicks
NBA G League Wisconsin Herd — NAT “SWEETWATER” CLIFTON – NBA Pioneer & NBA 75th Anniversary Team member