Jānis Timma, a Latvian basketball player who played for the Magic’s NBA G League franchise, has passed away, and the Orlando Magic and other members of the basketball world are grieving his passing. He was 32 years old.
In the early hours of Tuesday, December 17, Timma’s body was discovered in Moscow, according to The Moscow Times. It was alleged by the site that his loss seemed to be a suicide, citing the Russian state-run news agency TACC as their source. At this point in time, the reason of loss of Timms remains mysterious.
“We are saddened to learn of the tragic loss of Janis Timma, who was a member of Orlando’s Summer League team in 2021 and spent time with Lalekand (now Osceola) of the NBA G League in 2021-2022,” the Magic messaged on X (previously Twitter) on Tuesday. “Janis Timma was a member of the Orlando Magic Summer League team in 2021.” The members of his family and everyone else who was close to him are in our thoughts and we offer our sympathies.
The Memphis Grizzlies selected Timma in the draft in 2013, then four years later, in 2015, they transferred his drafting rights to the Orlando Magic. Between the years 2021 and 2022, he was a member of the Magic’s Las Vegas Summer League squad. After that, he spent some time with the Magic’s NBA G League club.
I have just learned about Janis Timma. On X, John Hollinger, a journalist for The Athletic and a former vice president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies, expresses his disapproval of the situation. I had the opportunity to spend some time with him in Latvia when we were in possession of his rights in 2013. We picked him sixty-first in 2013. Had a successful career in Europe but was never able to make it to the NBA. Two years ago, I had the opportunity to speak with him during Summer League, and it seemed like he was doing well. RIP, my dear buddy.”
Luka Dončić, a prominent player for the Dallas Mavericks, paid respect to Timma by posting a snapshot of himself participating in a game with Timma on his Instagram Stories. Other basketball stars also paid tribute to other basketball players.
In the caption, he wrote, “Rest in peace.”
Kristaps Porzingis, a top player for the Boston Celtics, who spent time with Timma on the Latvian national team, posted a message on his Instagram Stories that said, “Rest in Peace, JT.”
At a height of 6 feet and 7 inches, Timma played the position of small forward. He was born in Latvia and went on to spend his professional basketball career playing all throughout Europe. He also represented Latvia in international competition. A contract with the Spanish basketball club Monbus Obradoiro was signed by him in the month of February. In remembrance of Timma, the EuroLeague Basketball organization observed a minute of silence before to each and every game in the EuroLeague Round 16 and EuroCup Round 12 on Tuesday.
