Deandre Ayton, the Los Angeles Lakers’ starting center, was briefly held at Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Bahamas, on Tuesday due to suspicion of carrying a small amount of marijuana. The incident occurred as Ayton was returning to his home country, where marijuana remains illegal despite changes in NBA policy.
Investigation Clarifies Marijuana Did Not Belong to Ayton
Ayton’s lawyer, Devard Francis, explained that authorities discovered the marijuana in another passenger’s luggage, not Ayton’s. Following a prompt investigation, officials concluded Ayton was not responsible for the substance and released him shortly thereafter.
The investigators saw that the actual very small amount of marijuana wasn’t in Deandre’s bag, but they still went through their investigations, and he was released expeditiously,
Francis told Reuters in a statement.
Context of Marijuana Policies in NBA and Bahamas
Although the NBA has removed marijuana from its list of banned substances and ceased testing players for it under the latest collective bargaining agreement, the drug remains illegal in the Bahamas. This legal difference likely contributed to the temporary detainment despite Ayton’s clean record.
Ayton’s Current Season and Upcoming Schedule
Now 27, Ayton is in his first season with the Lakers after signing a two-year contract last offseason. Throughout this campaign, he has averaged 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. The Lakers will return to play following the All-Star break with a home matchup against the LA Clippers on Friday.
