WASHINGTON WIZARDS chiefs have issued an apology after leaving NBA fans furious following an April Fools’ Day prank.
The skit took place during their 153-131 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.
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A Washington Wizards fan was tasked with nailing a half-court shot while blindfoldedCredit: NBA Canada
He was mobbed following his attemptCredit: NBA Canada
A loyal Wizards fan was told he would bag $10,000 if he nailed a half-court shot while blindfolded.
And it appeared he was certain he had given his bank balance a major boost when he was swarmed by the mascots and the announcer said: “Somebody’s rich.”
But the Wizards supporter realized his attempt had soared over the basket when he was told to watch the replay.
The NBA franchise has been forced to apologize after the prank backfired and caused a major social media storm, while it turns out the fan was in on it all along.
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A statement read: “We apologize for last night’s April Fools’ joke that left many wondering if we had misled a fan.
“The skit involving our mascot and other members of our performance team was scripted 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 be committed to providing a positive experience to all who attend our games.”
Fans across the country raced onto social media to slam the Wizards after the incident.
One wrote: “That’s not funny. That’s just cruel.”
Another added: “This is an insane thing to do to someone who willingly attended a Wizards game.”
The loyal supporter was made to feel like he had pulled it offCredit: NBA Canada
But his attempt was way off targetCredit: NBA Canada
A third chimed in: “Jokes are fine, but making fans the punchline is a risky play.”
A fourth noted: “The high he must have felt and then the immediate drop off must have been devastating. He’s never gonna forget this moment.”
The fan was offered an autographed jersey and courtside tickets for next season after being left embarrassed at the Capital One Arena.
And the Wizards are back in action tomorrow, when they face the Miami Heat in Florida.