5 Shocking Truths Behind The 'Balls League Of Legends' Phenomenon: From Pro-Player Lore To The 'Worrying Trend' Meme

The term "Balls League of Legends" is far more complex than simple gaming slang, serving as a cornerstone of the game's competitive history and meme culture. What started as the in-game name of a legendary professional player has evolved into a multi-layered joke, a critical piece of esports lore, and a deep-cut reference for veterans of the community. As of , the phrase continues to be a widely-used reference point, connecting the game's past with its present competitive scene.

This article dives deep into the full context, exploring the biography of the player who inspired it all, the controversial tweet that birthed a viral meme, and the in-game entities that keep the "balls" concept alive in the Summoner's Rift.

An "Balls" Le: The Professional Player Who Started It All

The original and most significant context for "Balls League of Legends" is the professional player An "Balls" Le. Born on June 22, 1994, Balls is an American former professional League of Legends player, known primarily for his time as the top laner for the legendary Cloud9 (C9) roster that dominated the North American scene in the early 2010s. His career is marked by periods of incredible dominance and iconic moments.

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An "Balls" Le Biography & Career Profile

• Real Name: An Van Le (Vietnamese: Lê Văn An)
• In-Game Name (IGN): Balls
• Role: Top Laner
• Nationality: American
• Date of Birth: June 22, 1994
• Primary Teams: Cloud9 (C9), FlyQuest
• Signature Champions: Kennen, Rumble, Shyvana, Dr. Mundo
• Career Highlight: Part of the original Cloud9 roster that won the 2013 and 2014 North American LCS Summer Splits.
• Current Status: Retired from professional play, last playing for FlyQuest.

Balls was celebrated for his consistent performance, especially on split-pushing champions like Kennen. His career peaked during the Cloud9 era, where his team became one of the most beloved and successful rosters in North American esports history. Following his retirement, he has maintained a low profile, with no significant public updates on his activities in .

The 'Worrying Trend' Meme: A Controversial Tweet and Viral Legacy

The phrase "Balls League of Legends" is inseparable from the "Worrying Trend" meme, an inside joke that has become a staple of LoL community humor. This meme's origin is rooted in a single, controversial tweet from 2015, highlighting the intense scrutiny professional players face.

The Origin of the 'Worrying Trend'

The meme began with a tweet by Joshua "Jatt" Leesman, a former Riot Games caster and analyst (now a game designer). The tweet expressed concern over Balls' low rank on the North American server at the time, specifically noting that he was "only" Diamond II despite being a starting top laner for a major LCS team. The tweet used the phrase "worrying trend" to describe the situation.

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• The Core Premise: A professional player, expected to be Challenger/Grandmaster, was "only" Diamond II.
• The Controversy: The tweet sparked debate over whether a player's solo queue rank accurately reflects their competitive stage performance, with many defending Balls' ability to perform in a team setting.
• The Memeification: The community quickly satirized the overly dramatic use of the phrase "worrying trend" in relation to a relatively minor issue.

How the Meme Persists in

The "Worrying Trend" meme is still widely used in , particularly on platforms like Reddit and Twitter, to satirize any minor or overly-critiqued issue in the competitive scene. If a popular pro player has a bad game, a slight dip in form, or even a minor solo queue loss, fans will ironically declare it a "worrying trend," directly referencing the Balls incident. It has become a shorthand way to call out overreaction or unnecessary drama within the esports community.

Topical Authority: Champions and Abilities That Use "Balls" (Spheres)

Beyond the player and the meme, the word "balls" (or its more polite in-game equivalent, "spheres") is a crucial part of several champions' kits. This technical application of the term adds a layer of topical authority, connecting the slang to actual gameplay mechanics.

The Dark Spheres of Syndra

The champion most synonymous with the concept of "balls" in League of Legends is Syndra, the Dark Sovereign. Her entire gameplay loop revolves around the creation and manipulation of Dark Spheres (Q ability), which she can then use to stun enemies (E ability) or unleash a massive burst of damage with her ultimate, Unleashed Power (R).

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• Key Ability: Dark Sphere (Q) creates the 'balls' that persist on the map.
• Ultimate: Unleashed Power (R) gathers all nearby spheres to hurl at a single target, dealing immense damage.
• LSI Keyword: Syndra Dark Sphere, Syndra Balls to the Walls.

Orianna's Mechanical Ball

Orianna, the Lady of Clockwork, is another champion whose entire identity is tied to a spherical object: The Ball. She commands this mechanical sphere to move around the map, using it to shield allies, deal damage, and initiate massive crowd control with her ultimate, Shockwave.

• Core Mechanic: Orianna's abilities are cast from The Ball's location, not her own, creating unique strategic depth.
• LSI Keyword: Orianna The Ball, Orianna Playing With Balls.

Other Spherical Entities in the Rift

Several other champions and abilities involve spherical objects, further cementing the concept in the game's design:

• Nunu & Willump: The duo's iconic ability is "Biggest Snowball Ever!" (E), where Willump rolls a giant, controllable snowball, fitting the literal definition of a large, rolling ball.
• Rammus: While not a sphere he controls, Rammus, the Armordillo, turns into a fast-rolling ball with his Powerball (Q) ability.
• Zoe: Her Spell Thief (W) ability allows her to collect and use fragments of enemy summoner spells and item actives, which appear as small, glowing spheres on the ground.
• Malphite: His ultimate, Unstoppable Force (R), is often referred to as a "ball" or "rock" due to his unstoppable, rocketing charge into the enemy team.

The term "balls League of Legends" therefore functions as a three-part cultural phenomenon: a tribute to the legacy of a pro player (An "Balls" Le), a viral meme mocking esports overreaction ("Worrying Trend"), and a literal descriptor for the in-game mechanics of some of the most popular mid-lane champions (Syndra, Orianna).