Lakers starting center Deandre Ayton was briefly detained at an airport in the Bahamas on Tuesday, but he was ultimately released, according to TMZ Sports.
Ayton, 27, was in his native country during the All-Star break. While at the Lyden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, before flying back to Los Angeles for the final 28 games of the NBA regular season, authorities detained Ayton after he allegedly smoked marijuana on the premises, TMZ reported.
A search of Ayton came back clean for marijuana, however, and authorities released him.
As of the most recent CBA agreement, players are no longer tested for marijuana and it has been removed from the banned substance list. But marijuana remains illegal in the Bahamas.
Ayton, who is in his first season with the Lakers (33-21) after signing a two-year, $16.6 million contract during the offseason, is averaging 13.2 points and 8.5 rebounds after appearing in 46 of the first 54 games.
The Lakers host the Clippers on Friday night in their first game back from the NBA’s weeklong pause.
Ayton competes internationally for the Bahamas, last playing for the national team during the 2024 Olympic qualifying process.
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