FATAL FALL
Orlando Magic star Janis Timma, 32, shared tragic final post before falling to his death in Russia on ex-wife’s birthday
Timma's ex-wife broke her silence in an emotional video
A FORMER NBA player shared a somber final video days before he was found dead in Russia on his ex-wife's birthday.
The body of Janis Timma, 32, was uncovered on the entrance stairway of a high-rise residential complex in central on Monday.
3
3
3
In an Instagram post shared five days before his death, Timma records a short clip of himself shooting jump shots outside in the pouring rain.
Timma did not caption the post but added the song Boombastic by Jamaican reggae artist Shaggy in the background.
"Boombastic, Tell me fantastic, touch me on the back, She says I'm Mr. Ro-Mantic," the lyrics in Timma's video say.
An official cause of death for Timma, who played on the 's Summer League squad before the start of the 2021-2022 season, has not been determined.
However, a preliminary cause of death has been ruled as suicide.
Timma, who was born in Latvia, had relocated to Russia, where he was set to play in a 3x3 basketball league.
He had faced backlash when he announced his plans to play professionally in 's Russia despite its ongoing invasion of .
Timma's death came on his ex-wife, Anna Sedokova's birthday.
Most read in Basketball
The couple married in 2020 but had filed for divorce earlier this year.
Sedokova, a Ukrainian actress and TV personality, shared a heartbreaking reaction to her ex-husband's death.
Basketball star’s ex posts tearful vid after he’s found dead in Moscow
In the emotional video, a teary Sedokova asked her followers to keep her child out of controversies.
"I've wondered my whole life how people who have something like this happen to them can still post stories, and now, I'm asking you very strongly - I have a child, he's small, he doesn't need to know any of this," the mom said.
"I just have to save my child from this information, if you can, please keep it to yourself."
Timma began his professional basketball career in Latvia, playing for several clubs in the Latvia Basketball League (JBL).
star center and NBA Champion Kristaps Porzingis mourned the death of his former Latvian national teammate.
"Oh nooo, please tell me it's not true," Porzingis wrote in an Instagram Story.
"Human connection is the cornerstone of our mental health. Please, let's look after one another. Rest in peace, JT."
Timma suited up for several top European leagues, including VEF Riga, Zenit Saint Petersburg in Russia, and Baskonia in .
He was drafted 60th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies traded Timma's draft rights to Orlando, where he made his Summer League debut in 2021 and also played for the Magic's G League affiliate.
"We are saddened to learn of the tragic death of Janis Timma, who was a member of Oralndo's Summer League team in 2021 and spent time with Lakeland (now Osceola) of the NBA G League in 2021-22," the Magic said in a statement.
"Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family and all that were close to him."
Timma earned several accolades during his professional career in Europe, including dunk contest wins, a Baltic Basketball League Championship, where he won the Finals MVP award and a Latvia League title.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, chat on , or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
Topics