Boston Celtics Coach Brad Stevens Reveals Alarming Bomb Threat Experience Before Game Against Oklahoma Thunders

The Boston Celtics received a bomb threat while in a private aircraft on their way to Oklahoma City from Massachusetts. Police were immediately notified about the threat around 4 p.m. Central Time. Fortunately, the plane landed safely at Oklahoma City's Will Rogers World Airport, and after the team got off, a bomb squad searched the aircraft and learned it was a hoax and not a credible threat.

According to ABC News, the players were asked to leave their bags on the aircraft and proceed to a hotel upon landing. Likewise, Celtics forward Jae Crowder tweeted, "BOMB THREAT SCARE EARLIER.!! NEVER BEEN APART OF SUCH THING. BUT GLAD WE ARE OK AND MADE IT TO OKLAHOMA SAFELY.!!"

Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens also commented on the incident they got involved in. He said that it's "sick" that somebody phoned in a bomb threat towards their team, but praised the flight's crew and the officers who greeted the team on the tarmac in Oklahoma City for easing the given situation. Stevens also revealed to ESPN that Celtics travel and equipment manager John Connor and a flight attendant approached him about an hour earlier before Boston's plane was scheduled to touch down at Oklahoma City's airport. He was briefed about the threat involving the team plane and said he was advised to not alarm those on board while the plane staff started an initial inspection.

Stevens, who spoke before a 99-96 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, said that the threat was heavy news to receive. Moreover, Celtics players and staffers were interviewed by FBI agents at the airport before being bused to the team hotel. Inside Boston's locker room Sunday, players shared that it was a unique experience but that they were focused on the game against the Thunder. "It was just really weird. Very unexpected," said Celtics' Al Horford. "I'm glad that [it] was a false alarm."

Tags

Boston Celtics, Oklahoma City Thunder, Nba, Massachusetts, FBI