--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When time is running out and the score is…" description: "\"When time is running out and the score is close, most players are thinking, I don't want to be the one to lose the game, but I'm thinking, What do I ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/jerry-west-7315_basketball_when-time-is-running-out-and-the-score-i_607025.jpg" --- # When time is running out and the score is close, most… ![“When time is running out and the score is close, most players are thinking, I don't want to be the one to lose the game, but I'm thinking, What do I have to do to win?” quote by Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/jerry-west-7315_basketball_when-time-is-running-out-and-the-score-i_607025.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/jerry-west-7315_basketball_when-time-is-running-out-and-the-score-i_607025.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/jerry-west-7315_basketball_when-time-is-running-out-and-the-score-i_607025.jpg) > “When time is running out and the score is close, most players are thinking, I don't want to be the one to lose the game, but I'm thinking, What do I have to do to win?” [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In high‑pressure moments, focus shifts from fear of loss to proactive strategies for winning. **In simple terms:** Think win, not lose. Key Takeaway Adopt a winning mindset under pressure. Themes competition mindset performance Mood motivational strategic Type sports leadership When to use this quote - Final minutes of a game - playoffs - business negotiations - exam preparation Key Concepts Strategic thinking psychology of sport goal orientation Questions to Reflect On - What specific actions can you take when stakes are high? - How do you rehearse winning strategies? A Different Perspective Fear of loss can still cause anxiety, hindering execution. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Basketball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Games](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/games/) [Running](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time is running out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-is-running-out/) [Time running out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-running-out/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [The young players are only thinking about what they can win and that can sometimes be an advantage for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-hasenhuttl/the-young-players-are-only-thinking-about-what-they-can-win-and-that/) [Ralph Hasenhuttl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-hasenhuttl/) > [Call immediately. Time is running out. We both need to do something monstrous before we die.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-steadman/call-immediately-time-is-running-out-we-both-need-to-do-something/) [Ralph Steadman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-steadman/) > [Time is running out to deal with climate change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-guilbeault/time-is-running-out-to-deal-with-climate-change/) Steven Guilbeault > [Time is running out for Iran to address the international community's growing concerns about its nuclear program.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/time-is-running-out-for-iran-to-address-the-international-community-s/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [There are many disturbing news. We believe that the production of conventional petroleum reached peak oil already in 2006. The oil fields in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fatih-birol/there-are-many-disturbing-news-we-believe-that-the-production-of/) [Fatih Birol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fatih-birol/) > [That you've got to do anything that you feel is precious. I especially believe that about cultures and languages. You've got to be really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwenno/that-you-ve-got-to-do-anything-that-you-feel-is-precious-i-especially/) [Gwenno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwenno/) > [Time is running out fast. I think we have maybe a few months -- it could be weeks, it could be days -- before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willem-buiter/time-is-running-out-fast-i-think-we-have-maybe-a-few-months-it-could/) Willem Buiter > [People are usually pretty hungry after a funeral. I guess it's because we all realize that time is running out and we better eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hedges/people-are-usually-pretty-hungry-after-a-funeral-i-guess-it-s-because/) [Peter Hedges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hedges/) > [Time is running out for nature and wildlife around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-morgan/time-is-running-out-for-nature-and-wildlife-around-the-world/) Jennifer Morgan > [A level of no more than 350 ppm is still feasible, with the help of reforestation and improved agricultural practices, but just barely -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/a-level-of-no-more-than-350-ppm-is-still-feasible-with-the-help-of/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [Time is running out for us But you just move the hands upon the clock You throw coins in the wishing well For us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/time-is-running-out-for-us-but-you-just-move-the-hands-upon-the-clock/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [when you are old and realize that time is running out, you start imagining that you have the cure for all the ills of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-saramago/when-you-are-old-and-realize-that-time-is-running-out-you-start/) [Jose Saramago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-saramago/) > [There are really smart baseball players. It's a thinking person's game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/there-are-really-smart-baseball-players-it-s-a-thinking-person-s-game/) [Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/) > [In my days, players were only thinking about publicity during holiday and on rest days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zico/in-my-days-players-were-only-thinking-about-publicity-during-holiday/) [Zico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zico/) > [I can't be a manager, because I think it's too tough managing 30 players thinking in different ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronaldo/i-can-t-be-a-manager-because-i-think-it-s-too-tough-managing-30/) [Ronaldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronaldo/) ## More by Jerry West > [As you get older, every chance to win a championship is more crucial, because you are going to have less and less of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/as-you-get-older-every-chance-to-win-a-championship-is-more-crucial/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Many people, men in particular, just can't not be active. I guess our minds demand that we seek other challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/many-people-men-in-particular-just-can-t-not-be-active-i-guess-our/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [I've always been really nationalistic, and I had a brother killed in Korea. And I think the 'Star Spangled Banner,' even today - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/i-ve-always-been-really-nationalistic-and-i-had-a-brother-killed-in/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [I don't live in the past. And besides, there are too many times in my career to remember specific events, because I played so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/i-don-t-live-in-the-past-and-besides-there-are-too-many-times-in-my/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [You can't ever totally know what's inside of someone else, or see the kind of will someone like Magic has. You have to rely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/you-can-t-ever-totally-know-what-s-inside-of-someone-else-or-see-the/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [“Suddenly Sue shrieked as only four-year-old girls can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/suddenly-sue-shrieked-as-only-four-year-old-girls-can/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [The support this city and our fans have shown the Grizzlies made my decision to stay in Memphis an easy one. Memphis deserves a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/the-support-this-city-and-our-fans-have-shown-the-grizzlies-made-my/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [I always wanted the ball in my hands with a game on the line, as I think any real competitor does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/i-always-wanted-the-ball-in-my-hands-with-a-game-on-the-line-as-i/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Some guys lay their fannies out there every night - they play the game at such a high level, and they give so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/some-guys-lay-their-fannies-out-there-every-night-they-play-the-game/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [You need to possess more than a little nastiness to play basketball at the highest level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/you-need-to-possess-more-than-a-little-nastiness-to-play-basketball/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Personalities seem in many cases to dominate the lucrative endorsement market. But that doesn't upset me. What upsets me is when not enough attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/personalities-seem-in-many-cases-to-dominate-the-lucrative/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [You get so addicted to winning that you don't want that feeling to stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/you-get-so-addicted-to-winning-that-you-don-t-want-that-feeling-to/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [We talk about players of yesteryear, guys who could play or couldn't play, and I think it's ridiculous to try to even compare people...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/we-talk-about-players-of-yesteryear-guys-who-could-play-or-couldn-t/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [As a player all you can do is play within yourself, even in the context of a team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/as-a-player-all-you-can-do-is-play-within-yourself-even-in-the/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [There's been so many unbelievable players in Los Angeles, maybe the best of the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/there-s-been-so-many-unbelievable-players-in-los-angeles-maybe-the/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) [Explore all 92 Jerry West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) ## More Basketball quotes > [We love playing together and we love adversity. You know, back-to-back, the two best teams in the East.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nash/we-love-playing-together-and-we-love-adversity-you-know-back-to-back/) [Steve Nash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nash/) > [I don't look at myself as a basketball coach. I look at myself as a leader who happens to coach basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/i-don-t-look-at-myself-as-a-basketball-coach-i-look-at-myself-as-a/) [Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/) > [There is no doubt in my mind and I know in my time, there will be a Canadian basketball player playing for Toronto Raptors, 100%](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masai-ujiri/there-is-no-doubt-in-my-mind-and-i-know-in-my-time-there-will-be-a/) [Masai Ujiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masai-ujiri/) > [I learned so much from Sue about the Xs and Os of the game of basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-summitt/i-learned-so-much-from-sue-about-the-xs-and-os-of-the-game-of/) [Pat Summitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-summitt/) > [ I failed, I think, seven \[or\] eight times before I finally got my first \[championship\]. It was just, you know, just about me growing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-failed-i-think-seven-or-eight-times-before-i-finally-got-my-first/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [It's not how big you are, it's how big you play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/it-s-not-how-big-you-are-it-s-how-big-you-play/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [Basketball isn't just a sport to me ; it's my ecstasy !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamira-robinson/basketball-isn-t-just-a-sport-to-me-it-s-my-ecstasy/) [Jamira Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamira-robinson/) > [It's similar to basketball: when you go to different gyms and win or lose, you learn something new. So when kids get out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-iguodala/it-s-similar-to-basketball-when-you-go-to-different-gyms-and-win-or/) [Andre Iguodala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-iguodala/) > [If a Coach is determined to stay in the coaching profession, he will develop from year to year. This much is true, no coach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolph-rupp/if-a-coach-is-determined-to-stay-in-the-coaching-profession-he-will/) [Adolph Rupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolph-rupp/) > [And I want to do it the right way, like everybody else, not just a famous figurehead that gets a job because he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/and-i-want-to-do-it-the-right-way-like-everybody-else-not-just-a/) [Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Practice to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-bennett/practice-to-beat-the-best/) [Dick Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-bennett/) > [I'm a competitive person. I love the game of basketball. I'm a gym rat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-pierce/i-m-a-competitive-person-i-love-the-game-of-basketball-i-m-a-gym-rat/) [Paul Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-pierce/) > [I am both humbled and honored to receive the Honda Sports Award for women's basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittney-griner/i-am-both-humbled-and-honored-to-receive-the-honda-sports-award-for/) [Brittney Griner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittney-griner/) > [What I've talked about the entire series and throughout this playoffs is about intensity and effort, desire and will of our players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-laimbeer/what-i-ve-talked-about-the-entire-series-and-throughout-this-playoffs/) [Bill Laimbeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-laimbeer/) [Browse all 5,387 Basketball quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basketball/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When time is running out and the score is close, most players are thinking, I don't want to be the one to lose the game, but I'm thinking, What do I have to do to win?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jerry West" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/when-time-is-running-out-and-the-score-is-close-most-players-are/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Basketball" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/when-time-is-running-out-and-the-score-is-close-most-players-are/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/jerry-west-7315_basketball_when-time-is-running-out-and-the-score-i_607025.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/jerry-west-7315_basketball_when-time-is-running-out-and-the-score-i_607025.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7c/jerry-west-7315_basketball_when-time-is-running-out-and-the-score-i_607025.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When time is running out and the score is close, most players are thinking, I don't want to be the one to…” — Jerry West", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jerry West", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When time is running out and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/when-time-is-running-out-and-the-score-is-close-most-players-are/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/when-time-is-running-out-and-the-score-is-close-most-players-are/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```