Dallas Mavericks guard Brandon Williams was arrested at the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport on Saturday and charged with trying to bring 1.3 ounces of marijuana through security, according to an incident report obtained by DLLS Sports.
The incident report from the DFW Airport Department of Public Safety says police were called to a TSA checkpoint in the C terminal at about 10:02 AM on Saturday and told there was a “black container containing a green leafy substance” inside of a suitcase alleged to belong to Williams.
Williams told officers that it was his suitcase and that the container was also his, according to the incident report, but said his manager had packed his bag. Officers seized the container and it tested positive for THC, with Williams placed under arrest, per the report, due to knowingly possessing marijuana. THC is the main chemical component of marijuana, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.
The Mavericks, when reached Tuesday afternoon, declined comment. Neither Williams nor his representatives could be immediately reached.
It’s believed Williams was at DFW on Saturday morning to attend to a family matter after being granted weekend leave by the team. The 25-year-old was listed as out for the Mavericks’ past two games due to personal reasons and, before DLLS Sports’ report of his arrest, was listed as questionable for Sunday’s home game against Indiana (also for personal reasons).
While some states, including Texas, have legalized medicinal marijuana under very specific conditions, it remains an illegal substance under federal law. This prohibition is explicitly enforced on commercial aircraft and in airports, which fall under federal jurisdiction. The TSA, which is responsible for airport security, is required to report any discovered marijuana to law enforcement.
The arrest likewise comes despite the NBA’s changing stance on cannabis. Under the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the league and the players’ union that took effect during the 2023 offseason, marijuana was removed from the NBA’s drug testing program. The previous policy had mandated treatment for a first violation, a $25,000 fine for a second violation and a five-game suspension for a third.
Williams, who played one season at the University of Arizona, has taken a long path to the NBA. After going undrafted and playing for several G League teams, he impressed the Mavericks last season by averaging 8.3 points and 2.4 assists while on a two-way contract. His performance helped shore up an injury-depleted backcourt and earned him a multiyear contract on April 8.
This season, though, Dallas was hopeful that Williams could be more of a contributor early in the season with Kyrie Irving still recovering from knee surgery and Dante Exum likewise sidelined by a knee issue. Williams was plagued by a hamstring injury during training camp and has only played 18 scoreless minutes thus far in two regular-season games.
