I can think of so many other champions that had far greater impact throughout the season/ longer expanse of time in both pro scene and ranked, why Maokai when there's Kindred, Azir, Ekko, Viktor, Cassoipea, Ashe, Hecarim just to name a few off the top of my head.
BlueBilberry3 votesTranslation: people will complain whenever something free is given and it is not for the champion that they main.
JustMonika131 votesTranslation: people will complain whenever something free is given and it is not for the champion that they main.
I main Yasuo and tbh he had no chance in hell for a Victorious skin this season. The only time I saw him in the pro scene this season was in the Spring Split being played by Huni with the pre-crit-removal TriForce + PD build. He's been played a bit more than that and hasn't exactly preformed amazingly apparently. People just like bitching about him for the sake of bitching...
But I digress.
I already said that I get the fact that Maokai had his time to shine early in the season, but I also said that there were other champions that were arguably more dominant early this season and for a longer expanse of time than Maokai.
Ozzie Storm1 votesLet's not forget 
and 
as well.
EndlessSorcerer1 votesMaokai was dominant at the time they were deciding who would receive the victorious skin.
They had to start development at somepoint and he was their choice by the cutoff date.
JustMonika131 votesMaokai was dominant at the time they were deciding who would receive the victorious skin.
They had to start development at somepoint and he was their choice by the cutoff date.
. I get that this was based of the early season/ Spring Split, but again, I can name quite a few that received way more attention and arguably had a stronger impact.