The start of the fifth and final stage of the 2021 Call of Duty League season is fast approaching and in a last-ditch effort to guarantee a place in the top eight, the LA Thieves has made yet another change to its roster. Despite the recent addition of defending world champion Cuyler "Huke" Garland, performances have yet to reach the heights expected from a team of this calibre.
On June 24th, it was announced that former Team Envy player and 2016 world champion Johnathon "John" Perez would be joining the Thieves for Stage 5 of the season and the season-ending playoffs. The announcement was made soon after the team confirmed that Thomas "TJHaLy" Haly had departed from the team in place of John.
The Return Of John
John is widely regarded as one of the very best submachine gunners in the history of competitive Call of Duty. Known for his unmatched aggression and impeccable timing in order to make the biggest impact during a match, the return of John has been long-awaited.
Prior to the start of the Modern Warfare season, John disappeared from the competitive scene without a trace, leading to a wealth of speculation surrounding his sudden departure despite being at the top of his game. While many believed that he had been handed a 12-month suspension, John recently revealed that he had been suffering from health issues that had prevented him from competing at the highest level.
In October 2020, the former world champion posted a Tweet confirming that he will be returning to competition when he's "100% ready." Throughout the Black Ops Cold War season, John has been competing in the Challengers circuit awaiting his call-up into the CDL, and after a lengthy absence, John is back competing alongside and against the very best in the world.
LA Thieves Roster
John's return to action marks the seventh roster change for the LA Thieves, reflecting a mixed bag of results over the course of the first four stages. Heading into Stage 5 and Playoffs, this is what the Thieves' roster will look like:
- John
- SlasheR
- Drazah
- Kenny
John is no stranger to competing alongside former teammate SlasheR, having won the 2016 world championship alongside each other. The new SMG partnership with Drazah could be an interesting one to watch thanks to the combination of experience and slaying prowess. Will the changes see the LA Thieves reach the dizzying heights expected of them or are more changes on the horizon? We will have to wait and see!
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