Natus Vincere has officially announced a roster change: 18-year-old Drin “makazze” Shakiri will replace Justinas “jL” Lekavicius. This news is intriguing not only because of the transfer itself but also because makazze is the third player in NAVI Junior history to get a chance in the main lineup. This decision could significantly impact the team's playstyle in the upcoming season.
This move confirms that the organization is not afraid to bet on young talent. Despite his age, makazze has already made a mark on the international stage and shows consistent form. Comparing his stats with jL suggests that Shakiri might bring more aggression and activity to the early phase of rounds, whereas jL was slightly more restrained and precise in shooting.
Who is makazze
Drin Shakiri is one of the most promising players from NAVI Junior. Over the past year, his average rating was 6.5 — higher than many players from top-20 teams. Alongside the youth squad, he won tournaments like CCT Season 3 European Series #2 and #3, as well as the Thunderpick World Championship 2025: European Series #1 and YaLLa Compass Qatar 2025. These victories helped NAVI Junior rise to 27th place in the VRS rankings, marking the highest achievement for the lineup.
What jL Leaves Behind
During his time with NAVI, he was part of some of the most successful years in the organization's history. With the team, he won the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 — the first-ever CS2 major, and also became champion of the Esports World Cup 2024, ESL Pro League Season 20, and IEM Rio 2024. Additionally, NAVI with him in the lineup secured second place at the BLAST Premier: Fall Final 2024, IEM Cologne 2024, and BLAST Premier: Spring Final 2024.
These achievements show that despite the parting, the player's contribution to the team's success was significant and will remain a part of its recent history.
Updated NAVI Roster
Now, the main NAVI lineup looks like this:
Compared to jL, makazze has higher average stats in damage, kills, and overall rating. He opens rounds more often, though this comes with a higher risk. Meanwhile, jL showed a higher accuracy percentage and slightly fewer deaths, reflecting the difference in playstyles.
makazze's debut in the NAVI lineup will take place at IEM Cologne 2025 — one of the most prestigious tournaments of the year. This will be a serious test for the young player and a chance to prove that he is ready to compete with the best. It's also a challenge for the entire team — how quickly NAVI adapts to the new style will be shown in Cologne.
This transfer could mark the beginning of a new chapter in NAVI's development. Betting on a young but already experienced player from their academy is not just a swap of one player for another, but an attempt to renew the team's philosophy.
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