Why does NA still keep the same pro players, if they're "losers".

Reset213·Jul 8, 2017·1 votes·919 views

I'm not really into the whole e-sports thing, but I do play league and people always talk about NA always coming up short or getting whooped and mention the same names.

15 Comments

KazaLyn ShaoJul 8, 20173 votes

Because NA refuses to believe in up-and-comers. The problem with that is that since new players never get to even experience pro play, they never get to improve to the pro level. It's a catch-22 that has been biting NA in the ass since the big bang.

JavelinJoeJul 8, 20172 votes

????

Are you forgetting the great MikeYeung? Or how about BioFrost last year?

KazaLyn ShaoJul 9, 20171 votes

{quoted}

????

Are you forgetting the great MikeYeung? Or how about BioFrost last year?

That's what, 2 in years? Oh yea, we're rolling now. Meanwhile, all teams still overloaded with aging has beens who don't know their time is up.

JavelinJoeJul 9, 20171 votes

2 examples. I have more, like Contractz on C9

AbiwonKenabiJul 9, 20171 votes

I always thought that veterans were retiring at worrying rates. Like, in most sports you get to follow your favorite players for a while, in League you are lucky to get more than 2 or 3 years out of them, and the ones that are still here after 5 or 6 years are still here because they are some of the best (Froggen, Doublelift, Aphromoo, to name a few, are some of the best in their role). So I think it's a mix.

Contractz or C9 or Stixxay of CLG are other good examples of rookies we've mentioned. And Korea has it's fair share of long time mainstays. SKT is considered probably the best team ever and they have Faker, Bang, Blank, all long time players. They had Bengi for years, they now have Peanut, another years old veteran. I think a good mix is key here, just like any other sport. Veterans are reliable and consistent, up and coming rookies can bring fresh talent to the team and could eventually turn into those experienced veterans. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.

AbiwonKenabiJul 8, 20171 votes

JavelinJoe had a few great examples. Also, Stixxay of CLG.

JavelinJoeJul 9, 20172 votes

and Contractz of C9

III BAKURYU III Jul 8, 20171 votes

What "names" ?

ChompyWulfJul 8, 20171 votes

Hai, Doublelift, Froggen, Turtle, Lemonnation, Pobelter...there are plenty of overhyped NA natives who flop regularly enough.

III BAKURYU III Jul 8, 20171 votes

NA is considered as the weakest region in League and has been for 6-7 years going on now, at what point do we hold NA so high that when we fail it's a SHOCK, or over-hyped ? We all know LCK are the kings and LPL are close second.

HAI actually has a pretty good record on the International stage, same can be said about Lemon since he and Lemon played on the same team for so many years(Cloud 9). Pobleter has only played in like 1-2 International tournaments so far in his career(2015 Worlds 2-4) and some pre season Tournament with Immortals. Froggen is more EU than anything and D-Lift is honestly the best ADC in NA PERIOD.

Here's the thing about X players in NA - NA isn't as big as say EU who has like 40+ countries that they can scan for talent, in Korea it's pretty much WIN or god knows what happens( We all seen the "memes" of " You doctor yet", "Dad I'm only 10" " Tell me when you doctor" type of mentality from the Asians. Point is no matter how bad X player may be or seem they're all NA has.
There's a reason why so many players in NA haven't really been " taken over" X player replacing them for example Aphromoo for a new support for CLG, D-Lift on TSM replaced by a new ADC, Hai, Lemon etc it's because NA doesn't have the talent pool to begin with and the current players are lack of better word " better " than most of the newcomers in NA. I mean Goldenglue hasn't really worked out and he's been in NA for like 5 years now, BIG/HARD/Moon/ - meh players.
Dardoch/Stixxay and Mike Yeung - Are the only " American born" players that I can think of that haven't been trash since joining the LCS.

People can talk about NA Importing talent but at the same time, that's America at the end of the day to begin with, other countries( Asians, Mexicans, Japanese, Americans, etc ) different cultures.

ChompyWulfJul 9, 20171 votes

I'm aware of the pitfalls of NA talent. Frankly, ESports isn't taken seriously in NA like in Korea, China, or even EU. Teams in Korea get MAJOR corporate sponsors like Samsung, SKT which is THE big cellular company of the country. The culture doesn't accept that being a pro gamer is worth being a real thing so there is no support or growth of talent on a good scale.

That said, NA fanbase often talks up players as better than they frankly are on the world stage.

I'm assuming those are the names OP is referring to.

AbiwonKenabiJul 8, 20171 votes

In general, NA teams will usually not preform the greatest at the international level. Sometimes they surprise us (like at the very recent Rift Rivals tournament, or at IEM about two years ago) but on the whole they seem to choke when up against international teams. I'm the type of person to root for them anyways (since it's my home region) and I always hope, but even I can admit they tend to give lackluster performances internationally.

The thing I hate the most is that no matter if we do well, we are still the butt of jokes. NA basically has to win Worlds to be respected internationally I guess. Which is a shame because I think there's some real talent here.

III BAKURYU III Jul 8, 20172 votes

Even if NA wins Worlds let's say this year all that will be said is this " What took you so long, LOL " and at that point it's a lose - lose situation.
NA's performances have been getting better over the years, so I'm proud that even if NA doesn't win tournaments, they at least put their best foot forward in the process.

Black Man CarryJul 8, 20171 votes

The main reason why NA teams keep the same players is because they need to have atleast 3 Na players on their team. Now the reason why they give the same pros chance even if they suck is because they know what they can do, and they dont want to take a chance on a rookie and get a bad placing.
Its the same why the NFL will sign a 3 string quarter back as a starter over and rookie quarter back. If they know what they are working with they can build around that, when its a rookie you have nothing to show how you will play.

BigBellBruteJul 8, 20171 votes

{quoted}

I'm not really into the whole e-sports thing, but I do play league and people always talk about NA always coming up short or getting whooped and mention the same names.

We've changed players quite a bit. But the franchising with lcs and junior level teams from all franchises might mean that teams will try more to discover new players.