Not many League of Legends fans would have ever imagined that superstar AD carry Uzi could have headed over to Invictus Gaming for the 2020 Summer Split. But according to former IG ADC West, that superteam was almost a reality.
During a recent livestream, clipped by Korizon Esports translator Kevin Kim and translated by Twitter user iCrystalization, West revealed that “the Eternal God” almost signed with IG before the start of the season, before deciding to retire instead. This would have set him up alongside legendary stars like top laner TheShy and mid laner Rookie.
Heading into the end of week seven of the LPL Summer Split, IG are in fourth place with an 8-3 record. But with Uzi, anything could have been possible.
A power trio of Uzi, TheShy, and Rookie could have been enough to bring home the LPL championship once more for IG. That roster could have even challenged the best teams in League at this year’s World Championship and beyond. But now, fans can only dream about what that star-studded roster could have accomplished together.
Uzi announced his retirement at the start of June after suffering from several health issues throughout his impressive career. The veteran dealt with arm, shoulder, and leg pain due to the long practice hours and he had chronic stress and obesity issues. During an interview with Nike, he even said that a doctor compared his arms to a 40 or 50-year-old.
Although Uzi won many trophies throughout his career, including three LPL championships and an MSI title, he’s never lifted the Summoner’s Cup over his head. But he’ll always be known as one of the greatest players of all-time and arguably the best ADC to ever play League.
Over the course of his career, Uzi accumulated pain in his arms, shoulders, and legs. Playing League for hours on end took a toll on his health, preventing him from competing and forcing him to take regular breaks from the game.
Ahead of the 2020 LPL Spring Split, Uzi was advised to rest. After the season came to a close, he made the decision to step away from competing and retire. “Even in retirement, Uzi is still an important member of the RNG family,” RNG said. “In addition to doing everything we can to assist him in his future endeavors, we will also be by his side to help him on his journey to injury recovery.”
