On Friday, the NBA issued a memo that teams should prepare to play games with no fans in attendance, should the league deem it necessary. The memo also said teams should identify “essential staff” in what would be a worst-case scenario. “Imagine if we had a game and it was like this,” Malone said, alluding to the empty seats at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland. “That would be strange. The essential staff, like not even everybody could be there.” He added, jokingly: “I’m really hoping they wouldn’t allow the media. … You’re definitely not considered essential.”