Wizards Pull Brutal April Fools' Prank on Fan, Fake $10K Win After Airball

The NBA's worst team humiliated a loyal fan in front of thousands for a cheap laugh.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 4:39pm

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The Washington Wizards brought a fan onto the court during halftime to attempt a blindfolded half-court shot for a chance to win $10,000. The fan threw up the shot, which turned out to be an airball, but the Wizards still celebrated as if he had made the shot, only to then show the replay revealing the miss and crushing the fan's dreams in front of the entire arena.

Why it matters

The Wizards' prank was seen by many as a cruel and tasteless way to humiliate a loyal fan who was simply trying to enjoy a game of the NBA's worst team. Pranks and jokes on April Fools' Day are often criticized for lacking originality and going too far, and this incident has sparked outrage online over the team's treatment of the fan.

The details

During the Wizards' game against the Philadelphia 76ers, the team brought a fan onto the court to attempt a blindfolded half-court shot for a chance to win $10,000. The fan threw up the shot, which was an airball, but the Wizards still celebrated as if he had made it, with the announcer screaming in excitement and a horde of mascots rushing the court to lift the fan in the air. However, the Wizards then showed the replay on the jumbotron, revealing the airball and crushing the fan's dreams in front of the entire arena.

  • The incident occurred during halftime of the Wizards' game against the 76ers on April 1, 2026.

The players

Washington Wizards

The NBA team that orchestrated the prank on one of their fans.

Philadelphia 76ers

The Wizards' opponent on the night the prank occurred.

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What they’re saying

“This man (presumably) goes to work every day to make a living, and he spent his hard-earned cash to buy tickets to support the 17-win worst team in the NBA. And how do they repay him? By humiliating him in front of the Lord, the internet and 18,000 fans.”

— Amber Harding, Author

The takeaway

The Wizards' prank on their fan highlights the growing criticism of April Fools' Day pranks, which are often seen as lacking originality and going too far in humiliating people. This incident has sparked outrage online over the team's treatment of a loyal fan, raising questions about the ethics of such stunts, especially when they involve a team's worst-in-the-league performance.