In 1992, Malone expressed strong opposition to the return of HIV-positive, All-Star point guard Magic Johnson to the NBA, stating, “Look at this, scabs and cuts all over me. I get these every night, every game. They can't tell you that you're not at risk, and you can't tell me there's one guy in the N.B.A. who hasn't thought about it … Just because he came back doesn’t mean nothing to me. I’m no fan, no cheerleader. It may be good for basketball, but you have to look far beyond that.”