Janis Timma
Latvian basketball
Janis Timma was a Latvian professional basketball player. On December 17, 2024, he was found dead in the Russian capital of Moscow after a probable suicide.
Brief biographyJanis Timma was born on July 2, 1992.
From childhood he practiced basketball in his hometown Kraslava, and at the age of 15 he moved to Riga, where he played for the local ASC Riga, which was eventually disbanded.
He then played for DSN Riga, a team made up of young Latvian talent, and helped them win the 2nd Latvian Division in the 2009-10 season.
In the 2011-12 season, Timma joined Liepajas Lauvas. This can be considered his first real season at the professional level. After a decent season in Liepaja, Timma took the next step in his career and signed a multi-year contract with Ventspils on August 1, 2012.
In 2013, he led Ventspils to the Baltic Basketball League championship and won the Finals MVP award. In his second season with Ventspils, Timma won his first Latvian League championship and was also named playoff MVP.
On July 28, 2014, he signed a contract with Latvian club VEF Riga, where he played for the first time in such competitions as the All-European Secondary League, Eurocup and VTB United League.
Timma was named MVP of the 2015 Latvian Basketball League All-Star Game, scoring 41 points and setting a new scoring record.
In May 2015, he was named VTB United League Young Player of the Year. He finished the season with VEF Riga, winning the Latvian League championship.
Since June 2015, he played for the Russian team Zenit.
In June 2017 Timma signed a three-year deal with Spanish club Baskonia, and a year later he signed a two-year deal with Greek Euroleague club Olympiacos. However, he did not play there and was loaned to Russian club Khimki, with whom he later signed a full contract.
In November 2021, Timma signed a temporary agreement with UNICS Kazan of the VTB United League, but the agreement was terminated in December.
In January 2022, Timma signed a contract with the Lakeland Magic, who owned his draft rights.
In December 2022, he signed a contract until the end of the season with Puerto Rican club Baloncesto Superior Nacional.
In September 2023 he became a player of Turkish club Daryushafaka from the Basketball Super League.
In February 2024, Timma signed a contract with Spanish club Obradoira.
NBA Draft EligibilityIn 2013, Timma was declared eligible for the NBA draft. He was selected at the last number (60th overall) by the Memphis Grizzlies. In June 2015, the Memphis Grizzlies traded Timma's draft rights to the Orlando Magic.
In 2021, Timma was part of the Magic's Summer League team in Las Vegas, scoring 11 points in his debut game on August 10.
National Team CareerAs a member of the Latvian junior national team, Timma won a bronze medal at the FIBA European Championship by the age of 18 in 2010. In 2013, he made his first appearance with the Latvian adult national team. He played at the 2015 FIBA EuroBasket, the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, and the 2017 FIBA EuroBasket.
DeathTimma passed away on December 17, 2024 at the age of 32. His body was found at the entrance of one of the apartment buildings in the center of the Russian capital.
In recent years, Timma was going through a divorce with Russian singer of Ukrainian origin Anna Sedokova. At the scene of his death they found a phone with a message to Sedokova.
