It’s always a beautiful thing when you encounter a sports fanatic. I mean the ones who bleed their team’s colors and obsess over their city’s self-proclaimed dominance. The reputation of the Ohio State Buckeyes is irrefutable considering their prominence on both the court and the football field. Nobody can question that. Though the Cleveland Cavaliers were a deplorable team struggling since their cornerstone in LeBron James left, fans have been jubilant ever since Kyrie Irving stepped into the Quicken Loans Arena.
One fan would happen to be Maybach’s very own Stalley – the witty Ohio wordsmith. If Stalley – a one-time hooper known for having a wicked jumpshot – could be patient and believe that his Cavs could soon regain form and perform along the same lines as his Buckeyes, the rest of Ohio should be too.
Patient has always been a virtue for Stalley. After succumbing to his injury woes during his playing days, Stalley ventured over to music where he thrived and developed numerous relationships, one resulting in his signing to Rick Ross‘ Maybach Music Group. The vivacious spitter who touts his Kevin Durant-like skill-set wasn’t shy in letting people know that he could hoop during his interview with Dime. He also spoke on his love for the Ohio State Buckeyes, his playing days, the state of the Cavaliers, his MVP, and why he felt the NCAA should implement a compensation rule to aide college athletes.
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Dime: I’ve heard you’re a lean guard that can handle the rock and has a great jumpshot. Which is your best attribute?
Stalley: (Laughs) I’m definitely a shooter you know what I mean? Like what he say? That I’m lean, could handle, and could shoot?
Dime: Exactly.
Stalley: Yeah I definitely wanna say back in my glory days that shooting and defense were two things that were my specialty.
Dime: Who would you compare yourself to playing-wise?
Stalley: Man! I don’t like to say this but people that knew me growing up playing ball would compare me to something kind of like a Kevin Durant but more of a Rip Hamilton. You know the guy who was always moving around and going off screens. You know somebody who was a baseline shooter. I guess my one-on-one slashing game was a little bit better. I mean, he doesn’t really show that no more but I would say somewhere between Rip Hamilton and Kevin Durant.
Dime: I hear you on that. I was reading and I didn’t know you were at Michigan University in the beginning.
Stalley: Yeah for a second. You know, I didn’t get to play unfortunately. I was there but injuries and a lot of things came in the way. I ended up transferring over to Long Island University in downtown Brooklyn. So you know I was recruited out of high school. I had a lot of good opportunities. Out of school I was cut short with a lot of injuries and a lot of different situations. Like my father passed away. You know there was a lot going on. I really had to cut the basketball dream short with that being that my pops died and I was getting injured.
Dime: So while you were in New York, was that when you decided to make the transition over to music?
Stalley: Correct. You know like I said, I was at LIU and I was playing around with some people I ball with. I use to play around – not play around – but freestyle. You know I would write verses and recite the verses to people. I never really got into the studio. So once people found out that I was writing, they were saying that I needed to get into the studio and record because they knew I would rap and write songs. I never recorded music so some friends got me to get in the studio.
Dime: So did playing ball in front of crowds make the transition into performing for a large bunch of people easier for you?
Stalley: I think it did. I honestly think it did with just being in front of big crowds in high school, college, and in stuff like that. I think that it really helped me with my stage performances and just being comfortable in front of people.
Dime: I know you’re a big Ohio State fan.
Stalley: Huge, huge.
Dime: Where did your love for the Buckeyes originate from? Was that just simply based off being from the state of Ohio and repping the city or is there more to it?
Stalley: Yeah just being from Ohio and repping. A lot of my family, older cousins, and older friends that went to high school with me who were into sports went to that school. You know that’s the school in Ohio. I guess it was just deep rooted in me, man. It was just natural for me to pick up. I loved as a kid watching people like Eddie George and David Boston on the football field. I remember a little bit of Jimmy Jackson and Lawrence Funderburke and those guys. I remember watching Brain Brown and Mike Redd and those guys. I just became a big fan.
Dime: I definitely loved Mike Redd back in the day. Who would you consider to be the best Ohio State Buckeye in recent memory? You’ve had Evan Turner, Greg Oden, Mike Redd, Jared Sullinger and more.
Stalley: Man! Evan Turner was tough. He was tough. He was a great college player. He was a stat stuffer. He pretty much did everything. I would say Mike Redd probably man. You know back in the day, Mike Redd did a lot. He led them to the Final Four. You know he did a lot. Greg Oden, Mike Conley, Daequan Cook, and those guys did a lot. They took us to the championship. I think Mike Redd for as far as being consistent and staying for as long as he did. I think he was there for three years. So he definitely had put in some work.
Dime: Definitely. Now that leads me into the professional aspect and the state of your Cleveland Cavaliers. I know you gotta be hurting with the loss of Kyrie, man.
Stalley: Man! It’s stressful. We were looking good man. That backcourt was looking promising. I was actually upset that they got Dion Waiters but he’s been proving me wrong a little bit. He could ball a little bit.
Dime: Who were you aiming for before in the draft?
Stalley: Man I thought that they could have gotten somebody like Jeremy Lamb or even somebody like Thomas Robinson. I don’t know just somebody. I just thought that there were some other picks out there that could have fit a little bit better. You know you had Perry Jones III and Harrison Barnes. There were a lot you know what I mean? But he’s turning out great. So I have no complaints. I really love Tyler Zeller too, man.
Dime: I never thought I would say this but you guys may have an All-Star in Anderson Varejao. (Laughs)
Stalley: (Laughs) Right, but he’s been doing that though. He’s been doing that since LeBron. He gets those offensive rebounds. He boards period. He puts some buckets in too. He’s averaging about what, 17 and 12 or something like that?
Dime: Yeah he’s putting up like 15 and 15. That’s crazy to me right now.
Stalley: Yeah that’s even better than what I thought. Man that’s crazy! That’s All-Star numbers right there.
Dime: Do you feel a combination of Kyrie, Dion and Anderson will be enough to make it to the playoffs if not this year, but next season?
Stalley: Oh yeah. I definitely see us making the playoffs next year. One more piece and we’re good. You know whether it comes from a trade or draft pick next year. But with Kyrie, Waiters and Varejao, that’s a good three pieces to start with. And then like I said, I really think that Tyler Zeller is gonna be a good dude. I really think he’s gonna be a great player. He blocks shots, he boards, and he plays defense. I mean, I think he’s gonna be good. I like him over Tristan Thompson.
Dime: One thing that I definitely wish the NBA could switch up is be able to once again bring the high school kids back.
Stalley: I really wish they could bring that back too.
Dime: Why do you feel they should bring it back?
Stalley: I mean these guys are one and done anyway. Like why even make them go to college just for a year. It doesn’t make no sense to me. They’re not going there to focus on school. They already know what it is. I’m in here and I’m out of here. They’re grown men at that point. If you could let them go to the service, you might as well let them in the NBA.
Dime: That’s real. Do you think if the NCAA implemented compensation towards the players that would influence players to stay rather than make that jump to the league?
Stalley: Oh definitely. That’s a big problem for kids. You know it’s hard leaving and going to college as an athlete or even a student period. A lot of these kids come from single parent homes and homes that are below middle class. They’re thinking about wanting to make a better living for their families. I think that if somehow the colleges could give something because these kids come from lower-to-middle class families that that would definitely make them stay. I think a lot of them do want to stay and don’t mind having that experience of being at school you know? And they’re getting a free education at that. So you know, if you’re putting millions in front of a kid’s face like “What are you gonna do?” And you’re telling them that they’re gonna be in the lottery? He’s out of there.
Dime: Right. I mean granted, you have had a lot of kids who were exceptional one-and-done players including Carmelo Anthony, Michael Beasley, John Wall, and more. Who would you say was the best one-and-done player to come out?
Stalley: So far Carmelo.
Dime: Over Durant?
Stalley: Oh nah. I forgot about Durant. (Laughs) Durant hands down.
Dime: I mean ‘Melo got the chip. You can’t take anything away from him for that.
Stalley: Yeah but as far as the NBA career, hands down it’s Kevin Durant.
Dime: Switching gears. Because I’m growing out my beard and so is half the world now, who do you think has the better beard between you and James Harden.
Stalley: Of course me.
Dime: I think Kevin Love is trying to compete with you guys too.
Stalley: I see that he’s coming. Now you see if Kevin Love starts growing his out, he’s gonna kill everybody because you know a white person’s hair grows differently than a black person’s hair. So it’s gonna grow all long and crazy. He’s gonna look like ZZ Top or something. (Laughs) Look at the pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. Wilson.
Dime: His joint is crazy.
Stalley: Yeah his joint is crazy. (Laughs)
Dime: Do you have a particular MVP right now?
Stalley: Man it’s still open right now. I mean ‘Melo has been balling. He’s definitely been putting up big numbers. I would say it’s up in there air. Everybody’s doing it. LeBron is doing his thing. KD is doing his thing. ‘Melo, of course, is doing it. Who else? Deron Williams has been balling.
Dime: That’s my dude.
Stalley: Lopez is man! He’s coming together man. He just gotta rebound a little bit better but other than that he’s gonna be special too.
Dime: Who would you consider to be your most disappointing player so far this year?
Stalley: Who would I said would be the most disappointing player? Hmmm.
Dime: Well I just did a story on that particular topic and named some guys like Roy Hibbert, Michael Beasley, etc.
Stalley: Man that whole Indiana Pacers team. Like what are they doing over there?
Dime: I don’t know but George Hill saved them with that buzzer-beater against the Lakers.
Stalley: You know who’s disappointing to me man? Dwyane Wade. He gotta get away from that injury bug. He just isn’t staying healthy.
Dime: That’s the same thing I said. He’s a career 25 points per game scorer and is averaging just over 18 a game. He’s supposed to be the second best shooting guard behind Kobe. He’s not playing like it.
Stalley: That’s what I’m saying. He’s not playing like it all. He’s pissing me off.
What do you like about Stalley’s music?
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