Nadeshot takes pay cut to form Call of Duty League super team
The last time he did this, the OpTic dynasty was formed.
27th Sep 2024 13:05
Image via LA Thieves
Nadeshot takes pay cut to form Call of Duty League super team
The last time he did this, the OpTic dynasty was formed.
27th Sep 2024 13:05
Image via LA Thieves
For quite some time, the Call of Duty League has been a two-horse race, with Atlanta FaZe running the show and a second competitor cropping up on individual years.
The past four seasons have seen FaZe be joined at the top of the tree by a rotation of LA Thieves, Toronto Ultra, New York Subliners (now Cloud9), and most recently, OpTic Texas - most of who boasted individual superstars.
But this year, the league is shaping up to be the most competitive it ever has been. LA Thieves has scooped up the four biggest heavyweights outside of OpTic and FaZe to join them as a new super team, and it cost them an arm and a leg.
LA Thieves sign super team after Nadeshot cuts pay
LA Thieves have been in quite a sticky place in the CDL since losing their Vanguard-winning roster, having signed a string of youngsters in MW3, and suffering a middle-of-the-pack season until finishing second at the Esports World Cup.
Now, they have pulled in two MVP candidates and an SMG starter with as high a ceiling as anyone in the game to fit in around their young-gun in-game leader. Dan "Ghosty" Rothe will spearhead the new super team, and Thomas "Scrappy" Ernst will partner with him in the AR.
Scrappy and LA Thieves' new SMG phenomenon Paco "HyDra" Ruseiweiz were both named in the 2024 Team of the Year and are widely regarded as the best players in their respective roles. The team will be rounded off by Dylan "Envoy" Hannon, who rejoins the organisation after previously being the "prince of thieves."
But in order to fund this "super team", 100 Thieves owner Matthew "Nadeshot" Haag revealed that he had to take a pay cut from the company salary in order to afford them.
"I wasn't sure if I was going to talk, but my wife and Gracie (daughter) are feeling the effects of this decision bro, because I gave up a part of my own salary to get these contracts over the line as we ran out of money," Nadeshot said on stream.
Pay cuts seem to be an esport-wide problem at the moment, with OpTic's roster also shaving off some of their own salaries despite winning the world championship.
History destined to repeat itself
This isn't the first time that Nadeshot has had to take a pay cut on the chin to fund a Call of Duty roster. Back in 2024, Nadeshot and OpTic CEO Hector "H3CZ" Rodriguez self-funded the salaries of Ian "Crimsix" Porter, Matthew "FormaL" Piper, and Damon "Karma" Barlow.
Nade also stepped out of the team to go full-time in content and help keep the organisation afloat. Alongside Seth "Scump" Abner, that team became the greatest dynasty that Call of Duty has ever seen. Now, LA Thieves join FaZe and OpTic as an outright championship leader, and may even be above both sides in fans' rankings.
About The Author
Jack Marsh
Jack is an Esports Journalist at GGRecon. Graduating from the University of Chester, with a BA Honours degree in Journalism, Jack is an avid esports enthusiast and specialises in Rocket League, Call of Duty, VALORANT, and trending gaming news.
