- The 6ft 7in forward’s body was found in an apartment block on Monday
- In October, Timma faced backlash after stating his intention to play in Russia.
- The Latvian star was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2013 NBA draft.
Latvian basketball player Janis Timma was found dead after a fall from an apartment building in Moscow.
The 32-year-old, who played for teams such as Zenit St. Petersburg and Olympiacos during a successful EuroLeague career, was found on the stairs of a high-rise residential building, local reports claimed.
Timma’s untimely death occurred on the birthday of his ex-wife, Ukrainian singer and actress Anna Sedokova. In fact, it has been reported that a phone with a message from Sedokova was found next to Timma when her body was discovered on Monday.
The preliminary cause of death has been ruled suicide.
Timma and Sedokova, married in 2020, filed for divorce earlier this year. A devastated Sedokova posted an emotional message on Instagram on Tuesday morning.
The 6-foot-7 forward was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 60th pick in the 2013 NBA draft. He was later traded to the Orlando Magic, leading to an appearance in the NBA Summer League. 2021 NBA.
Latvian basketball player Janis Timma has been found dead after an apparent fall from an apartment building in Moscow
The 32-year-old’s untimely death occurred on the birthday of his ex-wife, Ukrainian singer and actress Anna Sedokova.
Local reports claim that a phone with a message from Sedokova was found next to TImma’s body.
Timma also represented Latvia in several youth and senior tournaments and was part of the team that won a bronze medal at the 2010 FIBA U18 European Championship. He played a total of 35 matches for his national team since his debut in 2014 and scored 338 points.
More recently, he faced backlash when he announced his intention to play professionally in Russia, despite that country’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. His decision marked the end of his international career, as Latvian athletes are banned from participating in Russian sporting events.
“It’s something interesting for me,” he told Latvian outlet LSM in October. ‘(I) thought why not try it?’
Timma took a more forceful tone when responding to criticism on Instagram after announcing he would compete in a tournament organized by Russian betting house Liga Stavok.
He wrote: ‘How useless you are, 99 percent of my dear followers. At least leave my family alone. It’s my decision and I don’t see anything wrong with it. “I play basketball and live my life.”
When reports of Timma’s death began circulating on social media, there was disbelief from members of the NBA community, including the Boston Celtics and Latvian star Kristaps Porzingis.
‘Oh nooo, please tell me it’s not true,’ he wrote on X following initial reports. Porzingis later added: “Human connection is the cornerstone of our mental health. Please, let’s take care of each other. Rest in peace, JT.