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The Washington Wizards’ forgettable 2025-26 season drew attention across the NBA on Wednesday night — but not for their recent struggles on the court.
Instead, the team’s April Fool’s attempt was a fluke. The Wizards, who entered Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers with the NBA’s worst record, had a fan attempt a blindfolded half-court shot for an apparent cash prize.
The fan’s shot ultimately fell wide of the net. But for a brief moment, the fan, along with the in-arena announcers and mascots, celebrated what they thought was a victory.
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A general view of the Wilson 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)
“Somebody’s Rich!” said the host 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 prank.
A general view of fans holding 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. “Okay, take a look at the replay screen.”
https://x.com/FearedBuck/status/2039577400418123807
The team gave the fan an autographed jersey and courtside seats to a future game as a consolation prize. Amid backlash Thursday, the Wizards admitted they “missed the mark” in an apology for the scripted April Fool’s stunt.
https://x.com/BrettSiegelNBA/status/2039743584081977482
“We apologize for yesterday’s April Fool’s prank that left many wondering if we had misled the fan. The skit involving our mascot and other members of our performance team was written and intended to celebrate the day. All participants were in on the joke, but we missed the mark. Our fans are our priority and we continue to provide a positive experience at our games.”
Washington Wizards guard Tre Johnson (12) shoots the ball over Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (1) during the second half at Capital One Arena on April 1, 2026; in Washington, District of Columbia. (Geoff Burke/Imagn Images)
As for Wednesday’s NBA action, Washington fell short again, dropping its fourth straight game. The 153-131 loss helped the 76ers hold onto the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference heading into the playoffs.
