By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
UNICS Kazan parted ways with Janis Timma, the team announced Monday.
Timma, 29, penned a one-month contract to return to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague but was released a few days early upon mutual agreement. He was limited to three points behind 1/6 three-pointers over three appearances in Europe’s premier club competition, including a couple of starts under head coach Velimir Perasovic through the short-term deal. In addition, he registered three assists, two rebounds, and two steals in 28:35.
Previous EuroLeague experience stems from Khimki Moscow Region, Olympiacos, and Baskonia the previous four seasons. He has made his way to 96 games carrying career averages of 7.4 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.8 steals per contest. Other former teams include Zenit Saint Petersburg and VEF Riga.
Before joining the Russian team based in Kazan, the Latvian small forward appeared in five NBA Las Vegas Summer League games as a member of the Orlando Magic squad. He put up 7 points and 3.4 rebounds per contest. Back in 2013, he was selected with the 60th overall pick of the draft by the Memphis Grizzlies but was limited to a couple of Summer League stints before his NBA rights were traded to the Magic in 2015.
At the international level, he has represented Latvia in the 2015 and 2017 editions of EuroBasket, and also competed in multiple qualifying tournaments at the senior level over the years. At the junior level, he was part of the team winning the bronze medals in the 2010 FIBA Europe U-18 Championship.