NaVi CS Says Goodbye to jL

After three years at Natus Vincere, core roster member jL is departing the organization. Let’s explore everything we know about the move.

NaVi Announces jL is Leaving

On July 1, 2024, Natus Vincere (NaVi) posted an announcement on its website. The statement reveals that core Counter-Strike roster member Justinas “jL” Lekavičius is leaving the team after over three years. The Ukrainian organization expressed its gratitude for jL’s time there, calling him “a player whose contribution to the development of NAVI’s CS2 roster is hard to overestimate.” NaVi wrote (translated from the original Ukrainian):

“Since joining the club at the end of June 2023, Justinas “jL” Lekavičius became that missing link that helped the team achieve countless standout victories, including the most important trophies — PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 and Esports World Cup 2024.

NAVI was jL’s first Tier 1-level team, where he fully showcased his strengths — not just as a player in official matches, but off the server as well. His aura and incredible charisma won the hearts of thousands of fans, and we’re confident they will keep supporting him.

Thank you, jL, for three years with NAVI: for the trophies, the amazing highlights, and the emotions that will forever stay in the memory of every #navination fan. We wish you all the best in the next stage of your career!”

An accompanying X.com post, including a montage, continued. The organization captioned the clip, “Some players leave behind trophies. Others leave behind unforgettable moments. [jL] gave us both. Thank you for every clutch, every laugh, every speech, every meme, and every moment that reminded us why we love this game. Wishing you success in whatever comes next. GL&HF!”

Why is jL Leaving NaVi?

jL posted a picture of the NaVi roster on X.com without a caption. Later, he wrote, “thanks to all the boys at navi and the org itself for the memories we’ve made along the way. I’ll cherish them forever. ❤️ should I comeback to tier 1 or keep chilling?”

Less than an hour after NaVi’s post, BC Game’s X.com wrote, “So who’s ready to see our new 5th?” The org has been building a super-team recently, signing s1mple, The MongolZ star Senzu, and prime Astralis IGL Magisk in quick succession. Some community members wondered if jL could be the final roster member. BC Game has a tendency to snatch up veteran players, so with several trophies and Major experience in his repertoire, jL could be a nice fit. Plus, his Lurker role would settle nicely into the team, which currently includes an AWPer, entry, rifler, and IGL. However, BC Game’s CEO later confirmed jL is not their 5th team member.

There is still plenty of speculation from netizens that he could be gearing up to move to another team. It’s also possible jL may simply be taking a break. In July 2025, he stepped down from NaVi’s starting roster for personal reasons. Drin “makazze” Shaqiri, originally from the NaVi academy team, took his place.

What Does This Mean for Counter-Strike?

Tons of roster transfers are occurring before the 2026 Esports World Cup and the 2026 BLAST Open, which take place in August. Teams are getting ready to perform at their best, which means streamlining strategies and identifying the best possible starting lineups. There is also plenty of money on the line: the EWC’s Counter-Strike tournament has a massive 2 million USD prize pool. The BLAST Open also sports a sizable 400,000 USD prize.

The Counter-Strike season is in full swing, so stay tuned for further roster information and updates as the story develops.