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The Washington Wizards’ forgettable 2025-26 season turned heads across the NBA on Wednesday night, but not for their latest on-court struggles.
Instead, the team’s April Fool’s attempt was an aerial ball. The Wizards, who entered Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers with the worst record in the NBA, had a fan attempt a half-court shot while blindfolded for an apparent cash prize.
The fan’s shot finally stayed very close to the net. But for a brief moment, the fan, along with the announcers and arena mascots, celebrated what they thought was a victory.
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A general view of Wilson’s basketball on the court during the second half of the game between the Washington Wizards and the Philadelphia 76ers at Capital One Arena on October 28, 2025. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
“Someone is rich!” said the presenter in the arena. “The mascots are going crazy, the contestant is going crazy, the crowd is going crazy.”
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The fan later saw on the jumbotron replay that the shot missed, as the Wizards admitted the misdirection was part of an April Fool’s Day prank.
A general view as fans hold signs during the second half of the game between the Washington Wizards and the Los Angeles Clippers at Capital One Arena on January 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
“You didn’t see it, we all saw it. Do you want to see it?” the host continued as the fan held up the oversized presentation check. “Alright, look at the screen to see the replay.”
https://x.com/FearedBuck/status/2039577400418123807
The team gave the fan an autographed jersey and courtside seats for a future game as a consolation prize. Amid Thursday’s backlash, the Wizards admitted they “missed the mark” in an apology for the scripted April Fool’s Day stunt.
https://x.com/BrettSiegelNBA/status/2039743584081977482
“We apologize for last night’s April Fool’s Day prank that left many wondering if we had misled the fan. The skit involving our mascot and other members of our performance team was scripted and intended to celebrate the day. All participants participated in the prank, but we missed the mark. Our fans are our priority and we remain committed to providing a positive experience for everyone who attends our games.”
Washington Wizards guard Tre Johnson (12) shoots the ball over Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (1) in the second half at Capital One Arena on April 1, 2026; in Washington, District of Columbia. (Geoff Burke/Image Images)
As for Wednesday’s NBA action, Washington came up short again, losing its fourth straight game. The 153-131 loss helped the 76ers maintain sixth place in the Eastern Conference as the playoffs approached.
