The Orlando Magic and other members of the basketball community mourn the passing of Jānis Timma, a Latvian basketball star who played for the Magic’s NBA G League team. He was 32 years old.
Timma was found dead in Moscow early on Tuesday, December 17, reports The Moscow Times. His death was an apparent suicide, the newspaper reported, citing the Russian state news agency TACC. Timms’ cause of death is unclear at this time.
“We are saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Janis Timma, who was a member of Orlando’s 2021 Summer League squad and spent time with Lalekand (now Osceola) of the NBA G League in 2021-2022,” Magic wrote on X (formerly Twitter) Tuesday. “Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and everyone who was close to him.”
Jānis Timma in August 2021 as a member of the Orlando Magic Las Vegas Summer League team.
Bart Young/NBAE via Getty
Timma was drafted in 2013 by the Memphis Grizzlies, who traded his draft rights to the Magic in 2015. He played for the Magic’s 2021 Las Vegas Summer League team before spending time with the franchise’s NBA G League team.
“I just heard about Janis Timm. Damn,” John Hollinger, columnist for The Athletic and former Grizzlies VP of basketball operations, wrote on X. “We drafted him 60th in 2013 and I got to spend some time with him in Latvia while we had his rights. He never made it to the NBA, but he had a great career in Europe. I talked to him at Summer League two years ago and he seemed to be doing well. RIP my friend.”
Other basketball figures paid tribute to Timma, including Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, who posted a photo of himself playing with Timma on his Instagram stories.
“RIP,” he wrote in the caption.
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Euroleague basketball players observed a minute’s silence for Jānis Timma before the game of the 16th round of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague regular season on December 17.
Rodolfo Molina/Euroleague Basketball via Getty
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“Rest in peace JT,” Boston Celtics star Kristaps Porzingis, who played with Timm on the Latvian national team, wrote on his Instagram Stories.
Timma, who was 6 feet 7 inches tall, played small forward. He was born in Latvia, played professional basketball throughout Europe and represented Latvia in international matches. In February, he signed a contract with the Spanish basketball team Monbus Obradoiro. The basketball EuroLeague observed a moment of silence before all EuroLeague Round 16 and EuroCup Round 12 games on Tuesday in Timma’s memory.
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If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line by dialing 988, texting “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Line at 741741 or going to 988lifeline.org.
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Source: HIS Education