Nobody can Tank quite like the Philadelphia 76ers and thankfully, Will Smith was in the building Wednesday night to witness it

You can call it a rebuild, a reset, a youth movement — whatever marketing spin you’d like — but make no mistake: the Philadelphia 76ers are in a full-blown tank, and they’re doing it with the kind of shameless elegance only this franchise can pull off.

On Wednesday night, the Sixers took the floor against the Washington Wizards, who were also doing their own best impression of a G-League showcase.

Somehow, Philly managed to get outplayed for four straight quarters, losing 119-114 in a game that never felt as close as the final score suggests.

Good.

mission accomplished

— Drew Smith (@drewmsmith) March 27, 2025

This 76ers game had all the usual tank-era suspects:

✅ Justin Edwards quietly impressing with efficient scoring
✅ Ricky Council IV doing… something
✅ Guerschon Yabusele grinding his way to free agency value
✅ A rotation held together with duct tape and 10-day contracts

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Let’s talk Justin Edwards…again. The rookie is shining through the rubble, again looking like a steal as an undrafted pickup. He continues to improve without hijacking the offense, scoring in rhythm, and flashing legitimate three-level scoring. If there’s one reason to keep watching these games, it’s him.

But then there’s Ricky Council IV, who’s gone full disappearing act at the exact worst time best time possible. If Slick Rick wanted to stake his claim to a long-term role, he’s doing the opposite and that’s exactly what the Sixers need right now so good on him.

Washington didn’t do anything special — they just showed up and shot their shot. That’s all it takes to beat this 76ers team, clearly.

Oh look! Will Smith rang the bell before tonight’s game!

Finally. The part-owner, Philly icon, and Fresh Prince himself showed up for… this game. His grand moment of Sixers fandom was the preamble to a loss to the Wizards, the 50th of the year, in what may go down as the most cursed Philadelphia sports season since the Liberty Bell cracked.

Okay, I’m going to come out and say it and honestly, it could be the 76ers misery taking over but fuck Will Smith.

Part-owner of the 76ers and he’s been where over the better part of a decade? He has been a ghost and probably the worst “celebrity fan/owner” in the history of sports.

Now that I think about it, it makes perfect sense that he’s part-owner if this mess of a franchise we have here in Philadelphia and shame on the few thousand fans that showed up and actually cheered for him tonight.

The only reason Will Smith was in the building is because he’s releasing a new album that nobody asked for.

“Will Smith don’t have to cuss in raps to sell records. Well I do. So fuck him and fuck you too”

Will Smith rings the bell pic.twitter.com/iAv66HY4Hn

— Varun Shankar (@ByVarunShankar) March 26, 2025

This game should’ve been nationally televised for the absurdity alone. The star-studded Sixers of October have turned into a G-League All-Star team by March. It’s beautiful really.

Check out this 76ers run and the roster from tonight. It’s incredible.

We invented the tank. No one does it better. Period. https://t.co/ozGXuTBwRK

— Drew Smith (@drewmsmith) March 27, 2025

A Lineup Sent from the Heavens…

The funniest part? The Sixers hit on some key moves. Edwards. McCain. Yabusele. Quentin Grimes. If you only looked at the front office work, you’d think this was a team on the rise.

But the reality is much darker than that. They are a poorly run franchise that won’t get rid of their dumbass GM and pretty much everyone in the front office. The 76ers are permanently stuck in the mud, hoping to keep their first-round pick, and praying the basketball gods give them another chance to build around Embiid and Maxey next year.

Until then, buckle up for more glorious disaster. Nobody tanks quite like us. And somehow, we always make it entertaining.

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