The Orlando Magic and various members of the basketball fraternity are in a state of mourning as Latvian basketball star Jānis Timma has passed away. He was just 32 years old. Timma's untimely demise has left a void in the hearts of many.

Remembering Jānis Timma - A Basketball Star's Tragic End

Early Life and Basketball Journey

Jānis Timma was born in Latvia and had an illustrious basketball career that spanned across Europe. He was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2013 and later, his drafting rights were traded to the Orlando Magic in 2015. His time with the Magic's Las Vegas Summer League team in 2021 was a significant milestone in his career. He then went on to spend time with the franchise's NBA G League team.During his career, Timma played as a small forward, showcasing his skills and talent on the court. His height of 6 feet, 7 inches gave him an advantage in various aspects of the game.

Tragic Death in Moscow

On Tuesday, Dec. 17, the news of Timma's death shocked the basketball world. He was found dead in Moscow, and reports by The Moscow Times indicated that it was an apparent suicide. The Russian state-run news agency TACC also confirmed the tragic event. However, the exact cause of his death remains unclear at this time.The Magic expressed their sorrow on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "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 Lalekand (now Osceola) of the NBA G League in 2021-2022. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and all that were close to him."

Tributes from the Basketball Community

The basketball community came together to pay tribute to Timma. John Hollinger, a columnist for The Athletic and the Grizzlies' former vice president of basketball operations, wrote on X, "Just heard about Janis Timma. Damn. 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."Dallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić also paid his respects by posting a photo of himself playing in a game with Timma on his Instagram Stories with the caption "RIP." Boston Celtics star Kristaps Porzingis, who played with Timma on the Latvian national team, wrote "Rest in Peace JT" on his Instagram Stories.

Memorial and Rememberance

EuroLeague Basketball held a moment of silence before all EuroLeague Round 16 and EuroCup Round 12 games on Tuesday in Timma's memory. This act showed the impact he had on the basketball world.It is important to remember that if you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.