jL is still in demand by top teams. Why is he still just a stand-in?

Justinas “jL” Lekavičius spent the spring playing for Team Liquid and MOUZ, and in the fall, he reached the semifinals with Team Vitality. The Major champion is back competing in major tournaments, but he still doesn’t have a permanent team. In Porto, he admitted, “I feel like time is running out.” We’ll explore why these temporary invitations haven’t yet turned into a permanent spot and what roster changes could make jL one of the most sought-after players of the offseason.

In July 2025, jL took a break from playing for Natus Vincere on his own initiative: after a grueling season, he needed time to recover. At that point, he had a Major victory under his belt and was ranked fifth among the best players of 2024. He already knew what it was like to win major tournaments, and now he had to decide when he was ready to return to his previous workload.

His return began with someone else’s problem. In March, Guy “NertZ” Iluz was unable to attend the HyperX Roman Imperium Cup VI, and Liquid needed a replacement—jL agreed and helped the team secure fourth place. For him, it was his first chance to play in a club LAN event again after his break. Things were more serious with MOUZ: a two-tournament loan allowed both sides to get a feel for each other before a possible extension. In May, jL explained that this trial period was necessary for both sides: the team needed to feel comfortable with him, and he needed to feel comfortable with the team. After nearly ten months away from Tier 1, he returned straight to the top five. MOUZ took bronze twice, but the Lithuanian never secured a permanent spot on the roster.

These performances are significant when taken together. Four club LANs in 2026, three different teams, and not a single finish outside the top 4—that’s enough data to evaluate the current jL based on his gameplay. His tournament ratings range from 1.03 to 1.11: a future coach has plenty to look at beyond the winning matches from two years ago.

In Porto, jL replaced William “mezii” Merriman, who missed the tournament due to the birth of his child. Such a substitution requires more than just learning defensive positions; for example, you might know the right smoke to plant but still be too late with it, because regular teammates are used to reacting to situations without needing additional explanations.

After an opening 0-2 loss to Inner Circle, Vitality addressed precisely these kinds of miscommunications. According to jL, it became easier to play from there on out. At the same time, he changed his own approach: at MOUZ, he had tried too hard to be a perfect executor, but now he was fulfilling mezii’s duties while retaining freedom in his decision-making during rounds. He even liked his new positions better than his previous ones.

Coach Remi “XTQZZZ” Konem noted the rookie’s sociability and how much was demanded of him in practice. He estimated that jL had mastered grenade tactics about 90% of the way and specifically praised his performance on Nuke. For a spectator, a well-placed smoke is rarely as noticeable as three kills. For a coach tasked with integrating a new marksman into the roster, this work may prove more important than a flashy final stat line.

There were plenty of standout moments as well. Against 9z, jL finished the series with 38 kills, 18 deaths, and a rating of 1.96, while on Dust2 he posted a 2.49 rating. In the quarterfinal against FURIA, after a tough match on Nuke, he responded with two maps above 1.2. Vitality won four matches in a row and made it to the top 4 for the first time in five tournaments, and it was the stand-in player who played a significant role in this comeback.

jL finished the entire tournament with a 3.0 rating and a 1.05 MMR across 14 maps. The semifinal against MOUZ dragged down his average: on the last two maps, he posted 0.65 and 0.52. Therefore, jL’s value in Porto is best seen in the sequence of matches. An inauspicious start was followed by a focus on correcting mistakes and several strong runs; against his former team, however, that momentum wasn’t enough.

Substitute invitations have a clear time limit. Vitality needed to send players home to their families: the club knew in advance who would return to fill the vacant spot. jL’s strong performance broadens the options for the future, but by itself does not provide a reason to part ways with a regular roster member.

With a full-fledged transfer, the question becomes different: whose position will he take, and what kind of team do they want to build for the entire next season? An aggressive player can be assigned a more passive role, but in doing so, it’s easy to lose the very reason he was invited in the first place. The situation with MOUZ shows why even two successful tournaments still leave room for both sides to make choices. Finding a fifth player and finding the right role for jL are not the same task.

jL is particularly close to Russian-speaking fans: he speaks Russian, and many have long considered him “one of their own.” That’s why the question of why no one is signing such a player arises with every new invitation to join as a replacement. The manager looks at the starting five already in place: each player has a position, a contract, and his own connection to the rest of the team. Not everyone will be willing to change this lineup before the end of the season. In the winter, however, clubs will evaluate the entire year, and spots may open up in several teams at once.

The most logical option in terms of gameplay is Liquid, if the team decides to replace Kit “NAF” Marković. Here, jL wouldn’t have to explain to the club from scratch how to work with him: they’ve already played a tournament together. That said, his previous invitation wasn’t a tryout to replace NAF, since at that time the Lithuanian was filling in for NertZ. A new move would mean a different set of roles, and the main discussion would center on how much initiative jL would retain in a more subdued role.

G2 Esports has a different starting point. The team reached the quarterfinals in Porto but once again fell short of competing for the trophy. If, at the end of the season, the club reassesses NertZ’s role, jL would be an interesting candidate thanks to his combination of experience in high-stakes matches and his willingness to take on a support role. Unlike the FURIA scenario, this move isn’t tied to the search for a captain: G2 could refresh its marksmen while retaining its current in-game leadership.

Aurora Gaming has already begun an international rebuild: this summer, they brought in a new captain, coach, and another marksman, while only three players remain from the Turkish roster. If the revamped team’s first season fails to impress management, the next phase of changes could affect this core as well. In that case, jL is an attractive prospect as a member of the new core, for whom suitable responsibilities can be assigned immediately. Here, the club will have more freedom to reassemble the mix of roles than it would with a single substitution at G2 or Liquid.

FURIA faces a specific crossroads ahead: Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo has announced that he will retire at the end of 2026. The team’s main marksman is Danil “molodoy” Golubenko, so FalleN’s departure primarily raises the question of the captaincy. If management entrusts leadership to one of the current players, the vacant position could go to jL. In that case, FURIA would gain an experienced marksman alongside its established leaders, and the team wouldn’t have to simultaneously search for a new captain elsewhere.

Vitality stands out because they already know jL from the inside and invited him to PGL Masters Bucharest 2026. Should changes occur in the future, this will give the club far more insight into him than any demo reviews could provide. The scenario involving Dan “apEX” Madeskler’s departure and jL’s permanent signing is only possible alongside a decision regarding a new captain. For the upcoming offseason, this is a long-term option: in August, apEX extended his contract through the end of 2028. However, jL has one more tournament ahead of him, during which he can strengthen his relationship with the club.

There is also a path through Astralis or GamerLegion. Such organizations could offer jL more influence over the game and the opportunity to become one of the main carry players, rather than having to adapt to an established championship lineup. For him, it’s a choice between the team’s current level at the time of signing and the role he’ll play in its future development. After several temporary stints, the opportunity to build something for the long haul may prove more valuable than the prestige of a big-name club.

As of July 1, jL is a free agent. A potential club won’t need to negotiate a transfer fee with NAVI, which is especially valuable when making multiple roster changes during a single offseason. The money that would have gone toward the shooter’s buyout can be redirected to another position. Salary, potential signing bonuses, and contract terms remain subject to negotiation, but one major obstacle to the deal is already out of the way.

For now, jL is waiting for a suitable spot to open up. If several teams he’s interested in begin rebuilding this winter, he’ll be the one to choose: where he’ll be given the roles he needs, with whom he can reach an agreement, and which roster has a chance to compete for victories. Then the current string of substitutions will take on a different meaning. Prospective teammates will see a player who has managed to play in three different systems, and jL himself will have enough experience to understand which one he wants to stay in.