LCS Import Rule – Has North America given up all hope on their own region?

After years of heartbreak and sorrow, in 2019 North America finally showed signs of life on the international stage. Team Liquid, the now 4-time LCS champions, beat 2018 world champions Invictus Gaming to go to MSI finals against European juggernaut G2. Despite being one of the fastest losses in League of Legends history, Team Liquid had done the impossible. No NA team has since come close to replicating the TL MSI run, with all NA teams crashing out in groups during the 2020 Worlds.

While NA still fails to impress on the international stage, team owners within the LCS have decided enough is enough and are pushing Riot to remove the import rule on their league. The import rule as is stands means each LCS team can only contain 3 imported players. What the owners are proposing is that NA teams should be allowed to have 5 imports if they desire, in a hope to capture some of the eastern international success. This is the biggest talking point currently in NA, and it seems that the team owners have put their own greed before the most important prospect, the development of future NA talent. The LCS does not lack young NA players who are managing to perform at a high level. Tactical, the replacement for Doublelift on Team Liquid, has shown his domestic and international potential and is being argued as one of the best NA ADCs right now. Alongside Tactical, TSM’s Spica managed to win the 2020 summer LCS title in his first split and Jonsun showed huge potential in his starting split with veteran support Aphromoo on Dignitas. So, while there is so much young talent in NA, why do the owners still want to look elsewhere?

The biggest issue for many fans is that the LCS will lose its identity and just become an LCK/LPL 2.0. This is not without merit, but it is worth seeing both sides. Impact and CoreJJ have moved over to NA from Korea and both have become staples of the LCS and North American League of Legends. This suggests there is still a potential for imports to come over and not affect the dynamic between fans and players. But this again is not without issue. What becomes of current NA pros if teams simply invest in 5 man import rosters? Do they get demoted to academy or simply lose their place in the professional scene?

With the uncertainty about the main team NA players, the change is even more unclear on the effect on the academy system. This system was meant to nurture young American talent and get them ready to move into the LCS, and this has been shown to work with the likes of Tactical and Spica. But the system is flawed even now, with the likes of Ssumday or CodySun ending up on academy systems despite being seasoned professionals instead of having young rookie talent in their place. So, with the system already being flawed, if teams do choose to import then undoubtedly the academy system will truly lose its identity. The main cure to fix the NA international draught will involve imports but protecting NA’s young talent is the most important thing. If the NA teams can find a balance between veteran imports who can nurture young talent, just like CoreJJ is doing with Tactical, then the system can begin to bring young players up with the right mindsets and ideologies to win internationally. Understandably this will take time, but in reality, it is the best way NA can protect itself against becoming an LCK/LPL 2.0. Hopefully the league and Riot will come to the best decision, but only time will tell.