Stan Van Gundy: Magic CEO Alex Martins showed “naivete” – Orlando Magic BasketBlog – Orlando Sentinel
Martins fired Van Gundy after the club was ousted in the first round of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers.
Its a typical lack of understanding from someone who has no sports knowledge, who has never coached or played, who has never been in a lockeroom .its a naivete, Van Gundy said of Martins Monday morning on Mike Bianchis show on AM 740.
.Ill stand on the relationships with players based on the results we got.
I think Alexs comments are based on the fact that Dwight and maybe others didnt like me and thinking somehow thats important.
Dwight and I had some things he wasnt happy with and there were some things I wasnt happy with, he said.
Van Gundy said there was no question that Howard had gone to management in an attempt to get him fired. Asked who in management alerted him to that fact, Van Gundy said, Basically everybody that was above me to the top level. In my mind, theres no real dispute that that happened. Theres been people trying to run from it and cloak it in different ways.
Owner Rich DeVos told the Sentinel during the season that Howard had come to management asking for the coach to be replaced.
Van Gundy said that Smith saw the end game to the Howard situation before anyone else and could have traded the center before he officially made his demand.
There were various times it could have happened .(Smith) saw this whole thing coming long before the season started, Van Gundy said. It ultimately ended up not being his choice.
Martins and Magic ownership, however, believed that they had chances to retain Howard because of his flip-flopping nature.
Martins fired Van Gundy after the club was ousted in the first round of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers.
Its a typical lack of understanding from someone who has no sports knowledge, who has never coached or played, who has never been in a lockeroom .its a naivete, Van Gundy said of Martins Monday morning on Mike Bianchis show on AM 740.
.Ill stand on the relationships with players based on the results we got.
I think Alexs comments are based on the fact that Dwight and maybe others didnt like me and thinking somehow thats important.
Dwight and I had some things he wasnt happy with and there were some things I wasnt happy with, he said.
Van Gundy said there was no question that Howard had gone to management in an attempt to get him fired. Asked who in management alerted him to that fact, Van Gundy said, Basically everybody that was above me to the top level. In my mind, theres no real dispute that that happened. Theres been people trying to run from it and cloak it in different ways.
Owner Rich DeVos told the Sentinel during the season that Howard had come to management asking for the coach to be replaced.
Van Gundy said that Smith saw the end game to the Howard situation before anyone else and could have traded the center before he officially made his demand.
There were various times it could have happened .(Smith) saw this whole thing coming long before the season started, Van Gundy said. It ultimately ended up not being his choice.
Martins and Magic ownership, however, believed that they had chances to retain Howard because of his flip-flopping nature.
