North America is a land of celebrity and legend, especially when it comes to sport. Often your legendary status can continue to grow long after your skill has faded, and League of Legends eSports is no different. Whether perceiving skill purely from big plays, past results, or fan-friendly personalities, fans can often overrate a player more than their skill genuinely merits.
When a player has their best playing days behind them, it is innate that a fanbase will hold on to what they used to be, instead of what they have become. This phenomenon can lead to skewed perceptions and false evaluations of player performance, overrating the value they bring to a team. With memories of glory for fan favorites of Cloud9, Team SoloMid, and others ringing continually ringing in their ears, it’s hard to cut through their past to see clearly the present.
Many players burst on to the scene or have a fantastic start to a split, only to watch their performance fade as the season progresses. While they may struggle, fans commonly fail to separate their late season performances from their early impressions. As the Spring Split comes to a close, here are the list of players fans may be overrating…
The 10 Most Overrated Players In The NA LCS
Fans can often place players at a level their skill can't justify. CLICKON eSports takes a look at two players from each role who have earned the title of "overrated".
IMT FLAME
You can tell a fall is dramatic when you go from being one of Korea's best Top laners to one of NA's worst. Flame came to Immortals with a dream of revitalizing his career, a dream that has never materialized. Flame likely has already seen out the best of his playing career.
FOX LOOPER
A former World Champion, Looper has failed to impress as Echo Fox's big off-season addition. Looper's play has been extremely poor, and is bottom three in both KDA and CS per minute. As synergy with his teammates continues to falter, his only two redeeming qualities are that he's a former World Champion... and he isn't Keith.
TSM SVENSKEREN
After looking like a world class Jungler on the international stage, Sven has fallen back to earth with his recent play. As possibly TSM's most underperforming member, the high expectations for Svenskeren before the season have not been realized. His play must improve for TSM to challenge top international competition.
FOX AKAADIAN
They say that first impressions are the most important, and Akaadian's entrance to the NA LCS could not have gone much better. NA's "first blood king" has struggled with Echo Fox as the season has progressed, although this has largely been shrugged off due to his early success.
TL PIGLET
Piglet's move to mid lane has helped us to forget the poor season he was having as an ADC. Team Liquid went all-in on a roster designed around Piglet and he has failed to deliver. Do not be surprised if Piglet is no longer with the team at the start of the next split.
TL DOUBLELIFT
In fairness to Doublelift, it would be hard for any player to live up to the godlike image fans have portrayed for him. Still one of NA's best, he is not the savior TL fans were hoping he would be. Doublelift has not exhibited the clean mechanical play we expect, but this should return with time - for now at least, his abilities are overrated.
FLY LEMONNATION
The oldest player in the LCS, a year ago you would not have expected to see LemonNation back in the LCS. Although his best days as a player are behind him, he can likely look forward to a long and successful coaching career when he decides to truly retire.
TL ADRIAN
Source: Riot Games Flickr
FLY HAI
The brilliance of Hai's shotcalling can at times make fans forget that Hai is not a mechanically dominant player. Currently last in CS per minute, Hai also ranks in the bottom half of the league in KDA. There was a reason Cloud9 replaced him...
C9 JENSEN
While Jensen is one of the top Mids in NA, his play in the last few weeks has been far from the dominant mid he is held up as. For proof, look no further than a solo kill by the newly minted Mid laner Piglet. Jensen will need to return to form for C9 to reclaim their early spot atop the NA LCS.
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