Basketball etymology: "clutch"?

[bdubya]

This is a little off-topic, but what's the derivation of the term "clutch" for performing well in high-pressure, crucial situations? What is the "clutch" in which somebody who is "clutch" comes through? When I hear "clutch", I don't think of someone calmly draining a buzzer-beating three, I think of someone tensing up and grabbing their chest heart-attack-style.


And what about "choker?" If you choke on something, that means you failed to swallow it, but nobody's going to say that a "clutch performer" is somebody who "swallows", right?

[JamStone]

"Seizing" the opportunity. "Taking hold" of the moment. "Reaching" and "taking" on greatness.

It's probably a word that was one of a few terms to describe the idea of being great under pressure moments, but it stuck.

[lebomb]

"clutch" = Timmy and Horry

[Reggie Miller]

Before the Marquess of Queensbury Rules, bareknuckled boxing was more or less an early form of Ultimate Fighting/MMA. Matches began with trading blows with the hands, then grappling, and ultimately ending with groundfighting. "Coming through in the clutch" refers to seizing an advantage during the grappling either by slipping in a few punches or gaining leverage and pinning your opponent. Literally, the boxers were "clutching" each other, trying not to end up on the bottom of the pile.

[bdubya]

...and Reggie drains another one from long range. Thanks.

[duncan228]

Jerry West= "Mr. Clutch"

Wasn't he the first player in the NBA to get the nickname?

[Dalhoop]

In basketball, I think "clutch" has several forms.

You can be a clutch defensive player ... Does anyone want to drive the ball against Camby in the final seconds.

Clutch can be shooting in the final seconds ... Who wants to be up by one with Kobe or T-mac bring the ball up the floor.

Clutch can be in "floor generalship" ... Nash is the best at making the right decicion in the final seconds.

So when people talk about a player being Clutch, it can take on a different definition with every player.

Is Camby more or less clutch then Kobe? Maybe, maybe not, you really can't say until the final seconds of a game when the two may cross each others paths. It is two different types of "Clutch though, thats for sure.

[TheNextGen]

ie. Lebron vs Kobe ...Kobe = make Lebron look less cluch then ever

[daspurs]

Dwade vs kobe in the clutch get espn classic ready

[Flo-Rida]

^^^ what he said but in the finals

[MrChug]

See post #4 for the history.

In any phase of your life (in this context) "clutch" refers to an instance or a person who is able to focus and deliver at their best-sometimes better than their best-rather than fold when the time comes to deliver. Most fold when "clutch" performers focus the best.

-The prettiest girl in the club has locked eyes with you and smiles...do you man up and focus...approach her with a smile or look down/walk away?

-The big boss who's never looked your way before asks for your opinion on something you clearly have a good one on...do you articulate your thought/process improvement/solution, or are you a "I think it's working just fine boss" choker?

-The order the waitress brought you at a fine restaurant isn't what you wanted. She walks away. Now...do you own up, call her (or the manager) and get what you're paying good money for and send it back or take what she brought you?

-Your team's down by 2 with less than 10 seconds left in the NBA Finals. You have no doubt that you'll be covered when the ball is inbounded, but the defender leaves you and now the ball's in your hands...do you Dirk it over to Jason Terry or Stackhouse, or do you nail the 3 to send the other team home dejected?

..."clutch". :king

[Findog]

See post #4 for the history.

In any phase of your life (in this context) "clutch" refers to an instance or a person who is able to focus and deliver at their best-sometimes better than their best-rather than fold when the time comes to deliver. Most fold when "clutch" performers focus the best.

-The prettiest girl in the club has locked eyes with you and smiles...do you man up and focus...approach her with a smile or look down/walk away?

-The big boss who's never looked your way before asks for your opinion on something you clearly have a good one on...do you articulate your thought/process improvement/solution, or are you a "I think it's working just fine boss" choker?

-The order the waitress brought you at a fine restaurant isn't what you wanted. She walks away. Now...do you own up, call her (or the manager) and get what you're paying good money for and send it back or take what she brought you?

-Your team's down by 2 with less than 10 seconds left in the NBA Finals. You have no doubt that you'll be covered when the ball is inbounded, but the defender leaves you and now the ball's in your hands...do you Dirk it over to Jason Terry or Stackhouse, or do you nail the 3 to send the other team home dejected?

..."clutch". :king

Chris Chris

[E20]

Clutch in my book means:
Making a crucial play at the right time, whether it be 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or the 4th quarter.

[Cry Havoc]

Before the Marquess of Queensbury Rules, bareknuckled boxing was more or less an early form of Ultimate Fighting/MMA. Matches began with trading blows with the hands, then grappling, and ultimately ending with groundfighting. "Coming through in the clutch" refers to seizing an advantage during the grappling either by slipping in a few punches or gaining leverage and pinning your opponent. Literally, the boxers were "clutching" each other, trying not to end up on the bottom of the pile.

Well done and thanks. The only post in the entire thread worth reading. =)

[sabar]

The OP said etymology not definition. Reggie nailed it though.