The European basketball community is in mourning as reports from Russia confirm the death of Janis Timma. The 32-year-old Latvian forward was found dead outside an apartment building in Moscow, under circumstances that remain unclear.
According to news.ru, Timma, who played for Olympiacos during the 2018/19 season, was discovered near his phone, which displayed a screensaver reading “Call Anna,” referring to his ex-wife, singer Anna Sedokova. Just one day earlier, on December 16, Timma had posted an Instagram story wishing the 42-year-old a happy birthday. The couple officially separated on December 9.
Born in July 1992 in Kraslava, Latvia, Timma stood 2.01 metres tall. He began his career with Riga and went on to play for Liepajas, Ventspils, Zenit, Baskonia, Olympiacos, Khimki, UNICS Kazan, Lakeland Magic, Grises de Humacao, Darussafaka, and most recently Obradoiro during the 2022/23 season. He was selected 60th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies.
Timma was known for his reliable shooting ability, which defined his career. He represented Latvia internationally for several years, though his omission from the squad for the 2023 FIBA World Cup came as a surprise, prompting a response from him on social media.
Time at Olympiacos
During the 2018/19 season, Timma joined Olympiacos as a high-profile signing, with coach David Blatt aiming to build a versatile squad. However, competition among forwards limited Timma’s playing time, leading to his mid-season transfer to Khimki, where he played until 2021.
While at Olympiacos, Timma averaged 6.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, and shot 38% from three-point range in 14 minutes per game in the Greek league. In the EuroLeague, he recorded 3.4 points per game with a 40.4% three-point shooting percentage in 11 minutes of play.
The tragic news has left the basketball world in shock as further details about his death remain unknown.
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Source: Sport24.gr
