Bucks' Portis to portray NBA pioneer Earl Lloyd in 'Sweetwater' film

Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis will make his acting debut in an upcoming movie about Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, the first African American player to sign an NBA contract.

Portis will portray Basketball Hall of Famer and Army veteran Earl Lloyd in the film, titled "Sweetwater," according to Hannah Kirby of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Lloyd became the first Black player to appear in an NBA game Oct. 31, 1950, suiting up for the Washington Capitols.

Clifton will be played by Everett Osborne in the film, which was written and directed by Martin Guigui.

Portis' business manager, Patrick Frazier, told Kirby that the 28-year-old has a "smaller" role in "Sweetwater" but has speaking lines and appears in a "pivotal" scene.

"It's really exciting for him," Frazier said. "He had an incredible opportunity this offseason to be involved in the project."