In the basketball realm, Alex Martins often gets vilified. It is easy to make him the bad guy as the representative of the DeVos family, the owners of the Orlando Magic, and someone who decidedly does not have basketball knowledge.
His role within the organization increased just as the pressure on it was boiling too. Dwight Howard’s free agency was coming and the franchise was facing a major crossroads.
It seemed the Magic were ready to move on from Howard but the business interest of keeping one of the best players in the league was holding them back. The basketball decision seemed clear to move on. Martins took the heat.
He took the heat again when the team hired Scott Skiles somewhat controversially. Martins had become Magic executive after spending time as part of the team’s public relations team. He had a close relationship with Skiles and it did seem like a bit of a nostalgia move.
That flew back in his and the franchise’s face this summer. As the Magic have had difficulties taking that step forward from the Howard trade and complete this rebuild, Martins has faced the scrutiny for the on-court product.
What he has done off the court though, has truly been impactful. Martins is as much a representative of Orlando as a community and all the success and growth it has had in the last few years.
He was instrumental as the Magic’s CEO in helping pass the events center package that build the Amway Center, Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center and renovated Orlando Citrus Bowl. Sure, he was representing his bosses in the Magic and was a lobbyist in that sense. But he also made sure it was important all three projects were tied together.
It was a way to transform Orlando as a city.
And in these past few weeks, Martins has continued to step up for the city. He was named the head of the board of directors of the OneOrlando Fund by Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer. It was an obvious choice for such a big task. Martins has been the leader of several boards of directors for charities throughout Central Florida. Very few heads of some of the biggest businesses in Orlando are as involved in the city as Martins.
With more than $3 million donated to OneOrlando Fund within a week of the tragedy — and likely much more with the wild success of the #OrlandoUnited t-shirts and continuing donations from around the sports world and the world at-large — there is a lot of money to manage and care for to distribute to the victims of this tragedy.
This is the real Martins. He is an amazing corporate citizen with strong values of giving. It has permeated the Magic organization. A big reason there is so much disappointment in trading Victor Oladipo is because of his work around the community. He is a two-time DeVos winner. That culture of giving is part of who the Magic are too. It starts at the top.
And Martins is living that mantra too. He continues to do so as he takes on this important role for this city.
The Magic’s business, by all accounts is good. The stuff that goes on off the basketball court is very healthy.
He may still receive some criticism for the Magic’s action or inaction on the basketball court. That part of his job remains a difficult one.
But he has also continues to be a pillar in the community and a leader for good for Orlando.
