JL Ranked 5th in HLTV's List of the Best Players of 2024

On Jan 9, 2025, HLTV announced the 5th place in its ranking of the top 20 players of 2024 in Counter-Strike 2. The spot was claimed by Lithuanian player Justinas "jL" Lekavicius. Notably, this is the first time jL has made it onto this list, and it also marks the first time a Lithuanian player has been included in the annual ranking of the best players, making it a significant milestone.

This year, the Natus Vincere core player showcased impressive stats and team play, reaffirming his place in one of the strongest teams. His overall rating was 1.13, KPR – 0.72, KAST – 73.8%, and impact rating – 1.16. It’s worth noting that jL was one of the key factors behind NAVI's success this year, and thanks to numerous victories, he earned such a high spot on this list.

Career Highlights and Achievements

JLegend started playing Counter-Strike during the early versions of the game, initially competing in public matches. At first, he didn’t stand out among other players, but his determination and competitive spirit gradually made him stronger, allowing him to progress. Starting in 2019, jL played for local teams, mostly competing in C- and B-tier tournaments. While he didn’t have standout statistics, he demonstrated consistent gameplay.

In 2021, he joined MAD Lions. Although the team didn’t achieve significant success, they participated in the qualifiers for the Major. The team where jL’s talent truly began to shine was Apeks, where he played from 2022 to 2023. With Apeks, he won several mid-tier tournaments and, most importantly, achieved a sensational 3rd-4th place finish at the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023. Following this remarkable performance, both the team and the player attracted significant attention, leading to jL’s transfer to Natus Vincere.

This decision proved to be the best in his career. From the very first season, he showed why he deserved a spot on the team. Starting in 2024, jL hit excellent form, and together with his team, they began dominating the scene. They first won the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024, where jL was named MVP, followed by a victory at the Esports World Cup 2024, where he earned the EVP title, as well as winning several other S-tier tournaments.

2024 Recap and Bold Prediction

The year 2024 was phenomenal for Natus Vincere and jL alike. They became the team with the most S-tier tournament victories, and the Lithuanian player played a significant role in this achievement. Proof of their dominance is NAVI reaching six consecutive grand finals, setting a historic record, while jL earned two MVP titles and four EVP honors over the year.

Bold prediction: Džiugas "⁠dziugss⁠" Steponavičius, a NAVI Junior player with a 1.07 rating, contributed to the team winning several titles in 2024.

How would you evaluate Justinas "jL" Lekavicius’ position in the HLTV Top 20 Players of 2024 list?