Lakers center Deandre Ayton was temporarily detained on February 17 at the Lyden Pindling International Airport in the Bahamas as authorities searched his bag for marijuana. As per TMZ, the Central Division of the Royal Bahamas Police Force mentioned that the player was allegedly spotted smoking marijuana on the premises, prompting airport authorities to search his bag.Ayton was released after no traces of marijuana were found in his bag. Ayton is a native of the Bahamas. While speaking to Reuters in a statement, his attorney, Devard Francis said:"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."As per the most recent Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), players can no longer be tested for marijuana and it has also been removed from the banned substance list. However, marijuana remains illegal in the Bahamas. A government website states:"Our goal is to protect the health of the public while providing access to cannabis for those who truly need it."More about Deandre AytonDeandre Ayton grew up in Nassau, the Bahamas, to a Nigerian father and a Jamaican mother. Once he reached age 12 he moved to San Diego, California, to play high school basketball. Ayton was considered one of the top prospects for recruitment in 2017. He went on to play for the University of Arizona before he got drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 2018.In October 2019, following the 2019-20 season opener, Deandre Ayton was suspended for 25 games after he tested positive for a diuretic and violated the league's anti-drug policy. He returned from the suspension in December, 2019.In 2022, Ayton left the Phoenix Suns and signed a four-year, $133 million offer sheet with the Indiana Pacers, the largest in league history. Phoenix Suns then matched the Pacers' offer, and in July 2022, Ayton signed the Suns' contract. In September 2023, Ayton, Toumani, and Camara were traded to the Portland Trail Blazers.In July, 2025, Ayton signed a two-year $16.6 million deal with the Los Angeles Lakers after a buyout negotiation with the Portland Trail Blazers. In December, 2025, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association announced Ayton as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for November, 2025.