Long before Justin “Jstn” Morales was making jaw-dropping plays in front of sold-out crowds, he was just another competitive gamer trying to improve his skills. As a relative unknown grinding away on PlayStation 4 ranked matches, Jstn was determined to master the physics-based soccer hybrid that is Rocket League. Little did he know that he was already on the path towards greatness.
Grinding in Obscurity
In 2016 when a 16-year old Jstn first jumped into the driver’s seat of his Octane battlecar, the professional Rocket League scene was still very much in its infancy. Yet there was already a skill ceiling visible that only the most mechanically gifted could reach. Jstn realised that if he was going to compete with the best on this new esport title, he couldn’t just rely on natural talent.
So he committed himself to a gruelling training regimen, often spending 8-10 hours a day in free play working on car control and refining his instincts. Most aspiring pros focused their efforts on mastering PC controls given the superior input latency compared to PS4. But Jstn continued honing his skills on controller, believing the key was changing his mentality:
“On PC you can do things faster but on PS4 if you play it right you can play just as fast.”
This single-minded dedication in relative obscurity forged Jstn into the creative attacking force he would soon become renowned for. But his breakout moment was still years of patience and persistence away.
Out of Style Debut
That defining breakthrough came in early 2018 when Jstn finally went pro after being acquired by Rival Series outfit Out of Style. Alongside fellow upstarts EpicJonny and Kerian, he was determined to qualify for the elite Rocket League Championship Series (RLCS).
The team chemistry was apparent from the outset. Out of Style tore through the lower bracket at DreamHack Leipzig, beating established sides like EnVyUs and compLexity before facing regional champions Gale Force Esports. In a shock result, Jstn and crew edged out the top seeds in a nail-biting game 7 overtime. Their runner-up finish not only earned Out of Style $12,500, but a coveted spot in RLCS Season 5.
Jstn Stats at DreamHack Leipzig:
- 2.29 goals per game (highest on team)
- 1.14 assists per game
- 71.4% shooting accuracy
- 12 total MVP awards
For a team thrown together just weeks earlier, it was an incredible statement – and the Rocket League world took notice. Here was a mechanical prodigy still using a PS4 controller who routinely pulled off plays that didn’t seem possible.
An anonymous rival team analyst remarked at the time:
“We knew Jstn was good but we had no data on him before Leipzig. Now we are terrified to play his team!”
Whirlwind Beginning with NRG
That fear and respect for Jstn’s talents grew exponentially in March 2018 when industry juggernauts NRG Esports acquired the young phenom. Flanked by legends Garrett “GarrettG” Gordon and Jayson “Fireburner” Nunez, expectation levels went through the ceiling. But Jstn took it all in composed stride.
In his very first tournament sporting NRG decals, he registered the highest goals per game of any player as his new roster swept to glory at the DreamHack Dallas Open.
Next was an acid test in RLCS League Play against the world’s top sides. Yet again, Jstn proved he belonged on the biggest stage, scoring crucial goals in NRG’s run to a perfect 7-0 record – securing themselves playoff bye straight into the World Championship.
Jstn in his Debut RLCS Season:
- 1.14 goals per game
- 0.43 assists per game
- 26 total shots (3rd most in league)
- 9 MOTM awards
When it came time for the RLCS Season 5 World Championship in June, the legend of Jstn grew larger still. In front of a record live crowd in London, his brilliance drove NRG all the way to the Grand Finals winners bracket. Consecutive sweeps over G2 Esports and defending champions Dignitas underscored that a new North American powerhouse had arrived.
Though they ultimately fell 4-3 to impressive newcomers Vitality in the Grand Final, Jstn had marked himself as Rocket League’s next superstar in undeniable fashion. Still only 17 years old, the keys to the kingdom now lay at his feet.
Over the next two seasons, Jstn’s destiny became fully realised. With NRG continuing their utter domination of North America, he claimed back-to-back World Championship titles in 2018 and 2019. Widely acknowledged as the best player on the planet through this period, Jstn reached ever-dizzying heights of innovation and consistency.
Yet all good things must come to an end…
Fall From Grace
The year is now 2021 and Jstn’s situation seems alien to those heady days lifting trophies with NRG just months earlier. Now in his fifth season with the team, their aura of invincibility has faded following two middling regional campaigns.
So too has Jstn’s individual form, which can be traced back to the Season X Championship. With tournaments cancelled for nearly a year from 2020, Jstn returned visibly off the pace as NRG limped to a top eight finish – their lowest Championship placing for three seasons.
The trend persisted into 2021/22. Now struggling with confidence issues and motivation, Jstn became a shadow of himself statistically compared to his early NRG days:
| Season | Goals per game | Assists per game | Shooting % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 6 (2018/19) | 1.29 | 0.38 | 45.7% |
| Season 8 (2019/20) | 1.12 | 0.48 | 43.8% |
| Season X Championships | 0.72 | 0.15 | 32.1% |
| Fall Regional 1 (2021/22) | 0.68 | 0.31 | 29.3% |
The decline was stark and largely inexplicable from a player considered the best in the world just months prior. With Jstn struggling so heavily in attack, NRG went from heavy Championship favourites to fighting to even make regional events.
They still managed top eight finishes in the Fall and Winter Regional events to qualify for Majors. But the team’s troubles were no more apparent than at RLCS Fall Major in October. Pitted against a relatively unknown Team Envy side, NRG failed to win a single game as Jstn barely registered a presence.
His shocking stat line of 0 goals and 0 shots over those 5 games pointed to a crisis in confidence. Once renowned for his ice-cool composure under pressure, Jstn was now a shadow of himself struggling with the weight of expectation.
A Change of Scenery
Shortly after that humbling Major exit, the news broke on November 23rd 2021 that Jstn would be stepping back from NRG’s active roster. Citing mental health issues and a desire to rediscover his passion for competitive play, his departure was met with widespread support.
After five tremendous seasons together that spawned two RLCS championships, the Jstn/GarrettG dynasty was officially over. Yet the legacy they created together will long be remembered as redefining the possibilities within Rocket League.
So as Jstn embarks on a new journey away from the NRG spotlight, what does the future hold for RLCS’ fallen hero? Can he rediscover the fire to again stake a claim as the greatest player Rocket League has seen?
At just 21 years old, his best years may still lay ahead of him. And to hear Jstn’s peers like Yanis “Alpha54” Champenois tell it, pure natural talent like his can never be dimmed for long:
“We know how good Jstn can be. I think maybe time away from NRG can help him. I can’t wait to see him smiling and enjoying Rocket League again.”
Perhaps the key will be moving to an underdog team where the suffocating pressure of expectation no longer rests on Jstn’s shoulders alone. Stripped of his crown as the game’s preeminent player, being the hunter rather than the hunted may rekindle that competitive fire within.
And once the unshakable confidence that marked his early rise with NRG returns, whichever team Jstn joins next instantly becomes a League Play threat again. Behind the wheels of his battlecar once more with a renewed hunger, anything seems possible.
After all, stories of redemption make the sweetest tales. And the Rocket League community is waiting with bated breath for Jstn’s next chapter to unfold.