Alex Martins' legacy for the Orlando Magic
Alex Martins became the focal point of the Orlando Magic's rebuild struggles. But his legacy goes well beyond what the Magic did on the court.
Orlando Magic fans, admittedly, do not have the fondest memories of Alex Martins. Martings was promoted to CEO of the team after the firing
Orlando Magic fans, admittedly, do not have the fondest memories of Alex Martins.
Martins was promoted to CEO for the team after the firing of Otis Smith before the 2012 season and became the face of not only the Dwightmare and the departure of one of the team's stars. He got thrown directly into the fire at one of the most pressure-packed points in Magic history.
Martins brought with him to that first public introduction a lot of the Magic's history. He had been part of the team's public relations department from the beginning, before leaving for a brief time to work for the New Orleans Hornets and going to business school.
This franchise had a lot of scars when it came to centers and their stars. The Dwight-mare was trading one set of mistakes for another.
But it became the foundation for Martins' public-facing career. He was the flash point for fans and their frustrations during that trade saga.
Most of Martins' work happened behind the scenes in the back halls of the Kia Center and the Magic's corporate offices. He helped spearhead and change the team's business side, running it for much of the past two decades. He was part of the group that spearheaded the plans for the Kia Center, giving the Magic a new lease on life and cementing their place in Orlando.
Martins and the team announced in June that he would be stepping down as the team's CEO. He would be moving to a senior advisor role, leaving an open door for the team's board of directors and anyone else to lean on his expertise. But he would not be part of the team's day-to-day business.
