LeBron James mocks Washington Redskins’ new NFL team name

LeBron James saw the funny side as Washington’s NFL team announced a “new” name after the franchise finally ditched the Redskins.

LeBron James saw the funny side to Washington's new name.

The former Washington Redskins will use Washington Football Team as an interim name for the 2020 NFL season, the franchise announced today (AEDT), dropping the team’s logo as well.

The team made the announcement in the wake of growing US social movements against racist symbols and monuments, the name team owner Dan Snyder once vowed never to change being retired before the start of the 2020 campaign.

NBA icon LeBron James certainly saw the funny side to the change, wondering on Twitter how long it must have taken to come up with something so original.

Just waking back up from my pregame nap to see about The Washington Football team??? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. Is that real?? No way! Oh man they had a thorough intense long board meeting about that one huh. 🥴🤦🏾‍♂️

— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 23, 2020

Even Brooklyn Nets forward and Washington native Kevin Durant wasn’t impressed with the name, responding to James’ tweet with a GIF of an eye roll.

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Yo I was going to check on you but figured you didn’t wanna be bothered at the moment. 🥴 @KDTrey5

— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 23, 2020

Going with a temporary name will allow more time to make a choice about a longer-lasting nickname moving forward after dropping Redskins, which had been used since 1933.

“The decision to use ‘Washington Football Team’ for this season allows the franchise the ability to undertake an in-depth branding process to properly include player, alumni, fan, community, and sponsor input,” the team said in a statement.

“To date, we have been pleased to see so many people putting forward their vision of what the new name and design should be on their social media channels and we look forward to including their feedback as this process progresses.”

The team website’s new banner, set to be displayed in stadium end zones this season, was “Washington Football Team, established 1932”, with the normal burgundy and gold colours remaining.

The profile face of a Native American as the team logo was reduced in size and placement as a first step toward being removed.

“The Redskins name and logo will officially be retired by the start of the 2020 season,” the team said.

“In addition, we are rolling out an aesthetic that reflects the direction of the franchise as we progress toward a new name and design scheme.”

RELATED: Trump’s fury at ‘racist’ nickname change

The Redskins are no more.

The players’ uniform will look a lot different this year.

The team plans a 50-day operation to remove all Redskins-branded imaging from all team facilities with plans to be done before the team’s first home game on September 13 against Philadelphia.

The Redskins logo used on player helmets will be replaced by the number of each particular player while “Washington” will replace “Redskins” on the stitching below the neck opening on the front of the jersey.

The club was founded as the Boston Braves in 1932, became the Redskins the following year and moved to Washington for the 1937 NFL season.

The team announced 10 days ago that it would drop the nickname and logo after 87 years, a move that came 10 days after vowing a thorough review of the team’s name.

— AFP with staff writers