De’Aaron Fox says Trump visit turned MSG access into ‘TSA-style’ screening before NBA Finals Game 3

Madison Square Garden is hosting Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday night, but the bigger story in New York has been what it took to get into the building. Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox said the arrival of President Donald Trump has added TSA-like screening and logistical hurdles for players, staff, and everyone else involved in the game-day process.

According to Fox, the president’s presence “makes it inconvenient for everybody else,” and he said the team was “getting screened like it’s TSA.” In the same report, he described the need to send items early and keep belongings to a minimum, reflecting how security operations changed the rhythm of a Finals week that normally comes with stricter procedures on its own.

The NBA Finals matchup has added historical weight to the night. The Knicks are two wins from their first championship since 1973, and they are playing at MSG for the first time in the Finals since 1999. Their opponent, the San Antonio Spurs, arrive with their season on the edge of elimination: the Spurs are down 2-0 and must win Monday to avoid becoming the first team in league history to lose a Finals after dropping the first two games at home.

Security planning for Trump’s appearance has gone beyond standard venue checks. Multiple reports said Knicks fans were told to arrive at least two hours early and that the entry process would include checkpoint screening resembling airport procedures, including magnetometer-style screening. Knicks officials also emphasized a strict no-bag policy and discouraged bringing anything beyond an essential, lightweight load, a move that reshaped how ticket holders prepared to enter.

The ripple effects extended to the surrounding area. New York police and the Secret Service coordinated to cancel an outdoor watch party near the arena for Game 3, with authorities framing the decision as necessary to support protective operations. Team-sanctioned watch locations were instead directed farther from the immediate MSG perimeter.

For the teams, the on-court challenge is clear, but the environment matters too. The Knicks are trying to turn the electric atmosphere of a franchise-defining Finals run into decisive momentum, while the Spurs are trying to deliver their best response in a road Game 3 while distractions, noise, and schedule disruptions swirl around the building.

As Game 3 approaches, the key question is how both teams manage the day, particularly the Spurs, who cannot afford to treat any possession like a low-stakes experiment. Fox’s comments set the tone that security is not just a background detail tonight, and the Knicks’ ability to convert this high-pressure moment could be as important as any match-up decision. For fans, the watch-and-wait reality is simple: expect longer entry times and fewer allowances for personal items, because the gate process is the game’s first obstacle.