Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton was briefly detained Tuesday at Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, Bahamas, on suspicion of possessing a "very small amount" of marijuana. Ayton's lawyer, Devard Francis, told Reuters that the marijuana was found in someone else's bag, not Ayton's, and the 27-year-old was quickly released after investigators completed their brief investigation.

The incident occurred as Ayton, a native Bahamian and member of the men's national team, was traveling through his home country's main international airport. Under the most recent CBA agreement, NBA players are no longer tested for marijuana and it has been removed from the banned substance list. However, marijuana remains illegal in the Bahamas, creating a potential conflict for players traveling internationally.

Ayton is in his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers after signing as a free agent. The team returns from the All-Star break on Friday at home against the LA Clippers. While the brief detention appears to have been resolved quickly, it highlights the ongoing complexities NBA players face regarding marijuana use, particularly when traveling to countries where it remains prohibited despite changing attitudes in the United States.