Just_NS: The Journey of Dota 2 Veteran Yaroslav Kuznetsov

Yaroslav Vladimirovich “NS” Kuznetsov has been a fixture in the Dota world for decades now, going from a decorated professional player to casting and now streaming full-time. His oftentimes unhinged takes combined with his top-tier knowledge of the game have helped him maintain relevancy throughout the years, building a solid community.

While he may not be the most professional streamer in the world, as he’s gotten blackout drunk on stream and cussed out a number of others while live, he’s definitely fun to watch.

He’s not everybody’s cup of tea, but his support insights are almost unmatched, so if you’re looking for main heroes like Brewmaster, you really have to watch his content. And unlike many other “coaches” in the scene, NS actually has the skills to back up everything he says.

Stay with Slot Streamers Bio as we take a look into NS’s career, starting from the beginning with Dota all the way through to his modern-day net worth and everything else in between.

Profile Overview

Social Media

• Telegram: t.me/fishkionline
• VK: vk.com/just_ns
• Instagram: instagram.com/just_ns
• Youtube: youtube.com/@just_ns/
• Twitch: twitch.tv/just_ns/

NS Net Worth & Wealth

With his long and successful career, NS has not only managed to win some sizable prizes in tournaments but also brought in a decent chunk of change from streaming, donations, and sponsorships.

Back in the 2010’s you may not have made a ton of money from eSports themselves, but with a career as long as NS’, you’re going to be sitting on a decent size nest egg. Realistically, his net worth sits just beneath $1,000,000.

Income Streams

• Ad Revenue: Given how long NS has been streaming, he’s had time to make a decent sum of money from viewership, especially on Twitch. With averages of 5,000-7,000 viewers over the last 5 years, he likely makes a decent 5-figure income each month from ads alone.
• eSports income: While the tournament prizes back in the day pale in comparison to the massive sums of cash given out nowadays, he still made a pretty penny off of his eSports wins and salary. This likely brought him a couple hundred thousand USD over his career.
• Donations: Yaroslav doesn’t get as many donations as some other similar-sized streamers, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t make a decent amount of money each month. As a Twitch partner, he likely makes several thousand dollars a month from his donations.
• Sponsorships: Sponsors like WinLine have given NS quite a bunch of money over the years, perhaps less than what some would think, but possibly still a couple hundred thousand USD.

Biography & Background

Yaroslav “NS” Kuznetsov, a name synonymous with Dota history, has carved his path in the competitive scene since its earliest days, the definition of day 1. His journey first started in 2005 with the semi-pro team SAY_PLZ, where he would quickly rise through the ranks to become one of the more popular players during the early days of Dota 2.

The beginning years saw NS establish himself as a force to be reckoned with from the get-go, quickly attracting the attention of larger eSports organizations. This was around the time Virtus.pro first took an interest in him before signing him in 2007. That season proved to be a defining period of his career. He played alongside a ton of legendary faces like Vigoss, ARS-ART, JoliE, and LighTofHeaveN. This juggernaut of a team dominated for quite a while, securing three consecutive MYM PriDe tournaments and reaching the finals of several ASUS Open Cups.

However, the good times wouldn’t last forever with the old boys, as he needed to move on, joining Rush3D alongside a couple of former teammates and other prominent players like PGG, DeMoN, and QWERTY. This new team replicated what NS managed to get with Virtus.pro, again being a glueman for a legendary roster, winning three consecutive ASUS Open tournaments.

The old head then transitioned to Dota 2 without many issues, where Yaroslav continued his competitive success, joining Moscow Five, surviving, and experiencing a series of roster changes and internal challenges. After the doom and gloom of Moscow Five, he decided to go back to his roots, finding a ton of success with Virtus.pro once again. Notably, he managed to win The Defense Season 3 before announcing his retirement.

Following this decision, NS transitioned seamlessly into a new role within the Dota 2 community. He embraced the world of casting, commentary, and analysis, becoming an active and respected figure in the community. With his in-depth knowledge of the game, combined with his insightful analysis, he became a valuable asset to RuHub, where he worked from 2015 to 2020.

Career Highlights & Achievements

Multiple Tournament Victories:

• 2006 – 2009: Won numerous tournaments throughout his career, including multiple ASUS Open Cups with both Virtus.pro and Rush3D.
• 2007: Champion of MYM PriDe tournaments with his early Virtus.pro team.
• 2011: Won OSPL Spring Finals with Moscow Five.
• 2013: Champion of The Defense Season 3 with Virtus.pro in Dota 2.

The International Participation: Participated in The International 2011 with Moscow Five.

Dominating Early Dota 2 Scene: Established himself as a top-tier support player in the early days of Dota 2, acting as a lynchpin on many teams.

Just_NS Twitch Channel Stats

Looking at just_ns’ Twitch channel growth since 2020, it’s been a pretty steady ride in terms of followers. He typically pulls in a 5-7K views on average, but things really popped off during the Grand Final of The International 2022 in October when his peak viewership blew up with over 114k views. NS, alongside fellow Dota 2 player Nix, were casters for the Russian-language broadcast, which was hugely popular—second only to the English streams.

Legend: HW = Hours Watched, PV = Peak Viewers; CCV = Average Viewers

STARPERHUB

NS is the creator and driving force behind “Starperhub,” a popular streaming initiative that has become a staple within the Dota 2 community.

Starperhub brings together a diverse group of prominent Dota players from throughout the years, including former and current pro players, analysts, and casters, for engaging discussions and insightful analysis of the game. Over the years, Starperhub has gained a ton of traction, giving Dota 2 fans a refreshing and entertaining perspective on the game beyond traditional broadcasts.

Scandals & Controversies

Departure from RuHub

One of the most notable incidents in NS’s career thus far involved how he left RuHub, one of the bigger eSports broadcasting platforms. In an interview, he revealed that the studio rejected his ideas for growth and reduced his role to just being a commentator. Frustrated by his loss of influence and creative differences, he just decided to leave. This departure generated plenty of discussion within the Dota 2 community, with many pointing to issues with the organization itself.

Controversial Stream Behavior

On several occasions, NS has found himself at the center of controversy due to his behavior, as he’s inflammatory, to say the least. This includes cussing people out with strong language, heated debates, and sometimes getting close to blackout drunk on stream.

Public Outbursts and Heated Exchanges

NS has been known for his outspoken personality and has never been one to shy away from a heated exchange, especially if it involved Dota 2 and its developers. He has frequently criticized Valve for how they have handled the game. As quoted by Hawk.live, he stated:

“What the developers are doing for Dota is laughable. It’s both laughable and sinful, too little. The game is not receiving adequate support from the developers. This is just a fact. There’s no point in arguing about it. If everything continues in this manner, Dota will be dying in ten years. It has been dying for the last two decades. I think Valve will get what they want, and the game will die”

Streaming Schedule & Platforms

Note: These are estimated times in UTC. For the most accurate schedule, check just ns’ Dota Twitch channel.

Most Memorable Moments & NS Memes

Yaroslav is not only a famed player and caster but also a significant contributor to Dota 2’s meme culture. Here are some of his most famous creations.

Famous NS’s Goose Meme

While the specific origin might be harder to pinpoint, NS is often associated with goose memes in the Dota 2 community. This ultimately comes from the general “goose-like” unpredictability of his personality. These memes often depict him as a chaotic force doing the most outrageous things.

Brewmaster Guide

NS is known for his in-depth knowledge of the game, and this includes creating guides for various heroes. His Brewmaster guide, in particular, gained a ton of traction within the community. His guide got mixed reviews when first released, as it reflected NS’s unique approach to the hero, perhaps emphasizing unconventional strategies or highlighting lesser-known aspects of the Brewmaster’s kit. Later on, his guide became a point of reference for players looking to hit a high MMR with Brewmaster.

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