LeBron James L.A. Home Vandalized With N-Word Graffiti ... Hate Crime 
 
 LeBron James' L.A. Home Vandalized With N-Word Graffiti, Hate Crime 
 
 EXCLUSIVE 
 
 An L.A. home owned by LeBron James was the target of a hate crime -- someone spray painted the n-word on the front gate and detectives are now investigating, cops tell TMZ Sports. 
 
 Here's what we know ... multiple LAPD units and a neighborhood patrol vehicle responded to the home early Wednesday morning. We're told the word was scrawled on the outer gate. 
 
 We're told investigators are looking for security footage from neighbors which may show the perpetrator. 
 
 Records show LeBron bought the house back in 2015 but it does not appear he lives there on any regular basis. 
 
 The graffiti has since been covered up. 
 
 We're told LeBron was not at the home at the time of the incident -- he's presumably in the Bay Area gearing up for Game 1 of the NBA Finals, which starts Thursday. 

 CLOSE USA TODAY Sports' Jeff Zillgitt breaks down the complete team effort the Cavaliers will need in order to beat the Warriors. USA TODAY Sports 
 
 Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James is averaging 32.5 points per game in the playoffs. (Photo: Bob DeChiara, USA TODAY Sports) 
 
 A West Los Angeles home owned by LeBron James was vandalized Wednesday morning at 6:44 a.m., Los Angeles Police Department officer Norma Eisenman confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. James was not present when the vandalism took place, Eisenman said. 
 
 A racial slur was painted on the gate of the Brentwood neighborhood estate but has since been covered over by property management, Eisenman said. Police did not provide details on what the racist slur was. 
 
 The news was first reported by TMZ. 
 
 The LAPD is investigating the incident as a hate crime and an official police report is expected later Wednesday. Eisenman did not specify if security footage is being used as part of the investigation to identify any suspects for the graffiti. 
 
 According to public records, James bought the house in 2015 for roughly $20.9 million. It is 9,440 square feet. James' primary residence during the NBA season is in Akron, Ohio, though he is currently preparing for his third consecutive NBA Finals with the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Golden State Warriors. This series will mark James' seventh consecutive NBA Finals. Games 1 and 2 are in Oakland, Calif. 
 
 James, a global icon, has spoken out against racism throughout his career. 
 
 After Baltimore Orioles outfielder Adam Jones was the target of racial slurs while playing against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, James said, "Racism, we know, exists. You try not to put yourself in a position, for me as a father, I try to give my kids the blueprint on how life is gonna be. But at the end of the day, I can only tell them so much, and they have to go out and live it themselves. For me, I just try to be respectful, for one, respectful to others, and I feel like if you do that consistently, then I believe the karma will come back to you." 
 
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– A Los Angeles home owned by LeBron James was vandalized Wednesday morning, the n-word spray-painted on its front gate, according to TMZ. Los Angeles police confirmed the vandalism to USA Today, though the spokesperson didn't offer specifics on what racial slur was used. The Cleveland Cavaliers player, whose primary home during the NBA season is in Ohio, was not at the Brentwood home at the time, and TMZ says it "does not appear he lives there on any regular basis." Property management has already covered over the racial slur, and police are investigating the incident as a hate crime.