Basketball fans are sharing their condolences following the death of Jānis Timma, a Latvian player who was previously a member of the Orlando Magic’s minor league organization. He was 32.
Orlando Magic officials confirmed Timma’s death in a statement posted to X, formerly Twitter, Tuesday.
“We are saddened to learn of the tragic death of Janis Timma, who was a member of Orlando’s Summer League team in 2021 and spent time with Lakeland (now Osceola) of the NBA G League in 2021-2022,” the statement read. “Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and all that were close to him.”
According to The Moscow Times, Timma was found dead early Tuesday outside of a residential building in Moscow. The outlet noted that his death has been deemed a suicide.
Timma was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2013, went on to play for the Orlando Magic’s Las Vegas Summer League team in 2021 and later spent time with the franchise’s NBA G League team.
Gary Bassing via Getty Images
Timma’s basketball career really flourished in Europe, where he played for several teams, including VEF Riga and BK Ventspils in his native Latvia and Zenit St. Petersburg and Khimki Moscow Region in Russia. In February, he joined the Spanish basketball team Monbus Obradoiro.
Among those to express their sympathy for Timma’s passing was John Hollinger, a columnist for The Athletic and the Grizzlies’ former vice president of basketball operations.
“Just heard about Janis Timma. Damn,” he 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. Never made it to NBA but had a great career in Europe. Talked with him at Summer League two years ago and seemed like he was doing well. RIP my friend.”
Boston Celtics power forward Kristaps Porzingis, who played with Timma on the Latvian national team, shared similar sentiments in a post on his Instagram Stories.
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“Rest in peace, JT,” he wrote.
If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention.
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