A few hours ago sad news came from Russia. Janis Timma, one of Latvia’s most successful basketball players, was found dead in Moscow. The former Magic forward, just 32 years old, had recently moved to Moscow to play 3×3 basketball. Unfortunately, his struggle with emotions is said to be the reason for his untimely demise. And the news is only just reaching some of his teammates, including his compatriot Kristaps Porzingis.

Following this devastating news, the Celtics center sent a cryptic message on his social media. He wrote “Ludzu saki ka nee” on a blocked screen in his Instagram stories. Porzingis translates to “please say no” and is visibly shaken by the tragic news of his former teammate’s death.

According to reports from Moscow, the cause of Janis Timma’s death is still being investigated. Initial reports suggest it may have been suicide. This comes just a week after the Latvian player and Ukrainian singer Anna Sedokova officially finalized their divorce. Timma had spoken openly about his struggles with emotional distress, and he spoke publicly about his mental health issues on social media.

The couple were married for four years before splitting in December. Sedokova previously described that their relationship was facing major challenges. They reportedly lived in separate towns before parting ways. Investigators have mentioned that a message from Sedokova was found on his phone, but the details of this are still the subject of the ongoing investigation.

Kristaps Porzingis and Janis Timma as teammates

Kristaps Porzingis last played for the Latvian team in 2021. Even though injuries prevented his participation, the outstanding center always considered it an honor to play for his country. And a close teammate of his was Janis Timma. Their most memorable time came at the 2017 EuroBasket tournament.

The two leaders led the team to the quarterfinals, where they lost to champions Slovenia. It was the best placement Latvia has achieved so far in the competition. Timma averaged an outstanding 14.3 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4 assists over the seven games, while Porzingis scored 23.6 points per game.

Janis Timma was also briefly represented in the NBA Summer League. He was drafted by the Grizzlies with the 60th pick in 2013 and never played in an official league game. His last appearance was in 2021 when he played for the Orlando Magic and scored 11 points in his Summer League debut.

Although Janis Timma was unable to pursue an NBA career, she played professional basketball around the world. When Tammis played for VEF Riga in 2014, he helped the team in the Latvian Basketball League. He also played for high-profile clubs such as Olympiacos and Khimki Moscow in the Euroleague.