The Washington Wizards’ nightmare season just found a new way to hit rock bottom.
During a brutal 22-point blowout loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night, the organization staged a halftime prank that left the internet fuming and forced a formal apology from the team on Thursday.
The stunt, dubbed “G-Wiz’s April Fools Frenzy,” involved blindfolding a fan for a half-court shot with a $10,000 prize on the line.
Per the script, the in-arena host instructed the crowd to go "crazy wild" regardless of the outcome.
When the fan inevitably missed, the arena erupted; mascots mobbed the "winner" and handed him a giant $10,000 check.
The celebration was short-lived.
Seconds later, the host directed the fan to watch the replay on the Jumbotron, revealing the ball had barely grazed the paint.
G-Wiz then snatched the check back, leaving the fan with nothing but a "sorry" and the promise of an autographed jersey and future courtside seats.
The backlash was instant, with fans calling the move "mean-spirited" and "tone-deaf" for a franchise that hasn't seen a playoff series win since 2017.
“We apologize for last night’s April Fools’ joke... we missed the mark,” the team stated Thursday, desperately trying to clarify that the contestant was a "scripted" participant.
Despite the apology, the prank has become a symbol of the team's struggling identity, even after high-profile trades for Anthony Davis and Trae Young earlier this season.
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Published: Apr 2, 2026. Last updated: Apr 2, 2026.
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