Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton was briefly detained on February 17 at Lynden Pindling International Airport in the Bahamas on suspicion of possessing a small amount of marijuana.
Authorities stopped and searched the NBA star while he prepared to travel back to the United States near the end of the All-Star break.
According to reports from Reuters, officials initially suspected Ayton of carrying marijuana, which remains illegal in the Bahamas despite recent steps toward legalization for medical and religious purposes.
Sources familiar with the situation said investigators detained Ayton after discovering a small amount of the substance. However, his attorney, Devard Francis, disputed claims that authorities arrested his client.
Francis explained that investigators determined the marijuana was not in Ayton’s bag.
He stated that authorities still completed their investigation but released Ayton quickly once they clarified the situation.
Francis added that the substance belonged to another individual and that officials filed no charges against the Lakers center.
An earlier report from TMZ Sports claimed authorities searched Ayton after allegedly spotting him smoking marijuana on airport property.
Francis offered a different account, saying officers only searched Ayton’s belongings and briefly held him before releasing him without incident.
He confirmed that Ayton immediately began traveling back to Los Angeles to rejoin the Lakers for the second half of the NBA season.
The Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Lakers did not issue immediate public comments following the incident. Although the Bahamas has discussed marijuana reform, the drug remains illegal under current law.
Ayton, a former No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, joined the Lakers on a two-year deal last summer after previous stints with the Phoenix Suns and the Portland Trail Blazers.
In his first season with Los Angeles, the 7-foot center has averaged 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, providing a steady presence in the team’s frontcourt.
While the brief detention drew public attention, authorities released Ayton without charges, and he continues his preparations to return to the court with the Lakers.
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