G2 JoshRT reflects on the team’s strengths, key areas for improvement, and how they plan to sharpen their performance heading into Stage 1.
Josh “JoshRT” Lee has been leading G2 Esports since 2024. He first connected with part of the current roster during his time coaching The Guard, and since then, their rise has been remarkable.
From winning Ascension to securing back-to-back second-place finishes, followed by three regional titles in the next year, the team has consistently delivered strong results. The only thing missing from their resume, however, is an international title.
For the head coach, the 2026 season has been more competitive, but G2 Esports has shown they are capable of adapting to a meta that doesn’t naturally suit them. He described both their Kickoff and Masters Santiago performances as positive, while acknowledging that some improvements still needed to be made heading into Stage 1. In an interview with esports.gg, he discussed the team’s adaptation, Andrej “babybay” Francisty’s addition to the roster, meta changes, mental health, and more.
VCT Americas 2026: A new level of competition
Every year brings its own set of challenges, and JoshRT consistently reminds the team to be prepared — whether those challenges come from within or from external factors. This season, however, stands out, as JoshRT recognizes that the level of competition has significantly increased.
“I think there’s better rosters across the board, better staff, better management, and that should be expected,” he explained. “Every year, it’s going to be better, and we can’t compare it to last year. The past is the past. You can only take lessons, and hopefully it carries forward.”
For the head coach, the team is looking strong for the next stage. The only thing in their power is their own game, which they can control. “We need to improve on that little by little. People keep saying we’re the potential team, but we haven’t won an international trophy yet. It’s an analogy to life. You just got to keep living,” he added.
G2 JoshRT on the team’s adaptation and playstyle changes
For JoshRT, the Kickoff stage was a success despite not winning it again. He recognizes the effort everyone on the team has made to follow the current double duelist meta and change their team identity to a more aggressive playstyle. “That takes a bit because some of the players were very used to slow-paced, double initiators play, double controller, even double sentinels,” he said. “But now it was a full swap, let’s learn how to play like APAC, and we caught some teams off guard.”
Qualifying for Masters Santiago was already an achievement in itself. “There’s some disappointment, we know we could have done more, but there was a lot of learning,” he said. “I have to remind myself and the guys that babybay is a rookie, for example, he will have to learn how to play internationally.”
Not only is there the pressure of a major tournament, but players also have to adapt to travel and living in a new place for a month. “All of that is new. You have your own routine, and every player has to learn how to deal with those things. But trust me, there’s a lot of learnings and we’re happy with the results,” JoshRT added.
Babybay joins the roster
“He is a very special addition to the team,” JoshRT commented on babybay’s addition to the G2 Esports roster. “I think having a good set ot personalities makes a difference in a team. Having too many reserve people would make it kind of tough, and if there are too many talkers, nobody’s listening. We need to have balance.”
While fans might think that there are better players out there, JoshRT explains that’s not how the teams work. “I think Andrej was the right addition for the players, and he would make their strengths shine a lot more. We’ve been constantly working with his individual play, micro, and agent pool. He was that flexible piece that helped us be aggressive, and the second duelist for the majority of the comps.”
G2 JoshRT also compliments babybay’s Chamber and how it has been a joy working with him in the last couple of months. Babybay has signed with the organization until the end of the 2026 season.
G2 JoshRT reflects on recent nerfs
Since Masters Santiago concluded, Riot Games has introduced numerous updates to agents, with a particular focus on nerfing duelists. Yoru and Waylay were the chosen ones, and they might have changed the meta. At the same time, a new agent, Miks, was released. JoshRT does not rule out the possibility of someone discovering the agent’s viability.
“There’s always a place. If you have an idea, you can make it work. I believe there might be optimal comps for Miks somewhere. You just need to be creative. I can see it’s being used to fill a controller slot, but it is possible to build a comp around it and make it work,” the head coach described.
Miks debuted in Tier 1 in VCT China 2026: Stage 1. Lo “Flex1n” Rui from Dragon Ranger Gaming was the first to bring out the agent, but ended up losing both matches and finishing with a negative KDA. However, in Challengers, the agent has been used quite a few times since its release.
Mental health and how to avoid burnout
For G2 JoshRT, everyone needs to be on the same page for things to work. “I try to make sure everyone knows what they’re working on, and it feels good when the team sees progress and things move forward,” he said. “For me, it’s when people thrive the most.”
To avoid burnout, one of the best things is actually to go home and be with your family. “When you’re chilling at home, when you don’t rot in your bed and actually go outside, take a hike, watch movies together, have other activities, it feels like you’re doing eventful stuff,” JoshRT stated. “There is no shame in doing nothing, sometimes it’s important, but what I try to say to my guys is just don’t stress yourself — unless it’s a purposeful stress on your body with the intention of being able to withstand more stress in the future like working out, for example.”
With the guidance of G2 Esports’s performance coach, JoshRT ensured the team understood the importance of proper sleep, regular exercise, engaging in fun activities, and using their breaks to reset. “I think they come back enthusiastic, refreshed, and ready to work, and that creates a really fun environment to be in,” he added.
The villain’s storyline
G2 Esports members have a big presence on social media. During tournaments, there is always a villain storyline surrounding the team, an ongoing dispute against everyone. For the coach, it’s a double-edged sword.
“We understand the need for it because people like storylines, they like to see personalities, and root for somebody and cheer against somebody,” he said. “Sometimes, it can be a distraction. I would like to let the game speak for itself and make sure my guys focus on the right thing. Social media can be really bad at times.”
However, JoshRT is not against being a villain. “The creative direction of G2 is up to G2 only. If they want us to be the villains, so be it. We’re still going to try our best and deliver good performances,” he concluded.
VCT Americas 2026: Stage 1 kicks off on April 10, and the top three teams qualify for Masters London. G2 Esports returns to the stage on the first day of the tournament to play against MIBR.