In a surprising turn of events, Golden Guardians, the esports organization owned and operated by the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, has officially ceased all operations following its departure from the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS).
The sudden disappearance of the team’s social media presence and website and a statement regarding their exit from the LCS have shocked fans and industry insiders alike.
LCS exit and erasure from social media
Golden Guardians’ departure from the LCS was prompted by Riot Games’ decision to transition the league from a 10-team format to an eight-team format. In response to this change, the organization withdrew from competitive LCS play.
The team’s website now features a brief message explaining the decision and expressing gratitude to fans, players, and staff for their support.
However, the abrupt disappearance of the organization’s Twitter and Facebook pages first alerted fans to the situation.
Former social media manager Reba Robinson brought this to the attention of the remaining fans, highlighting that the accounts now displayed the message, “This account doesn’t exist.” Additionally, the team’s LinkedIn profile has been unregistered, marking the erasure of a significant online presence.
Only two remnants of the Golden Guardians’ online existence remain intact – their YouTube channel and Discord server. Despite their once-vibrant presence in various esports titles, the organization has seemingly vanished from the internet.
Golden Guardians’ history and controversies
The Golden Guardians were founded in November 2017 to compete in the 2018 LCS season. Both highs and lows marked the organization’s journey. In the early stages, controversy surrounded the team as the Golden State Warriors dismissed coach Choi “Locodoco” Yoon-seop in February 2018 for making inappropriate remarks towards a female Riot Games’ esports staff member.
In 2019, the organization expanded into multiple esports, including Apex Legends, Teamfight Tactics, and World of Warcraft, and had plans for a Rocket League squad. They were also affiliated with the NBA 2K League’s Warriors Gaming Squad.
However, most of these rosters did not withstand the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving only the LCS squad and Super Smash Bros. players remaining.
The Golden Guardians had consistently occupied a mid-table position in the LCS, achieving their best results in 2023. During the LCS 2023 Spring Playoffs, the team made an astonishing climb from a sixth-place regular season spot to secure second place and a spot at MSI.
This remarkable feat was repeated during the LCS 2023 Summer, earning them a place in the LCS Championship. Unfortunately, their journey ended there as they fell short of securing a spot at Worlds 2023, losing to the LEC’s Team BDS.
