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Magic CEO Alex Martins Shows 'Naivete,' Says Stan Van Gundy

Stan Van Gundy called Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins naive for his position on Van Gundy's relationship with players and says management needs to accept its responsibility for the team circus last season.

By Brandon Scott
Feb 22, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy during the second half against the New Jersey Nets at the Prudential Center. Orlando Magic defeat the New Jersey Nets 108-91. Mandatory Credit: Jim O'Connor-US PRESSWIRE
Feb 22, 2012; Newark, NJ, USA; Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy during the second half against the New Jersey Nets at the Prudential Center. Orlando Magic defeat the New Jersey Nets 108-91. Mandatory Credit: Jim O'Connor-US PRESSWIRE

Former Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy went in on his old boss during a radio interview with Mike Bianchi, saying that Magic CEO Alex Martins showed "naivete" in alluding to Van Gundy not being able to relate to his players. Here's a quote from SVG, courtesy of the Orlando Sentinel:

"It's 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....it's a naivete," Van Gundy said of Martins Monday morning on Mike Bianchi's show on AM 740.

"....I'll stand on the relationships with players based on the results we got.

"I think Alex's comments are based on the fact that Dwight and maybe others didn't like me...and thinking somehow that's important."

Basically, Van Gundy stands by his record as Magic coach, which was pretty good, and not the dramatic scene with Dwight Howard that resulted in him losing his job this past season.

Van Gundy also said the "culture and values" instilled under former GM Otis Smith and former CEO Bob Vander Weide changed after Vander Weide retired and Martins was promoted to CEO.

According to Van Gundy, he's taking his share of the blame for the circus in Orlando last season and he wants management to do the same.

Read more on the Magic at Orlando Pinstriped Post and SB Nation Tampa Bay. Head over to our NBA hub page for additional news around the league.

Photographs by cstreet.us, thelastminute, turtlemom nancy , fesek, kthypryn, justinwright, sue_elias, pointnshoot, and scrapstothefuture used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.