Why was Jerry West called Mr. Clutch? The Lakers’ legend’s nickname

Jerry West, the man of the famous NBA logo, has passed away at the age of 86.

The world of basketball is mourning Mr. Clutch: as a player, West played for the Lakers for his entire career, and built up a historic feud with the Boston Celtics, his great nemesis.

The Hall of Famer has a fantastic story in the sport that can be endlessly dissected and looked at through various prisms. In this piece, we take a look at the Mr. Clutch nickname: where he got it from and why it stuck.

Why was Jerry West called Mr. Clutch?

The origin of the nickname dates back to the 1960s and 1970s, when West, despite his slim figure and small stature, had a talent at turning up in the big moments and, as the name suggests, getting those ‘clutch’ points in key moments late on in games.

It was famous commentator Chick Hearn who was the first person ton publicly name him “Mr. Clutch” a handle which stuck with West for his entire career.

The name also hints at his style and gracefulness under pressure: the Lakers are one of the most successful sides in the elite of basketball and having to turn up week after week for them requires not only great talent and a winning mentality, but also a sense of calm and confidence in your own ability. West certainly had all of those qualities. Rest in peace, Jerry.