Reports: LA Home Owned by LeBron Vandalized with N-Word Graffiti

According to a report from TMZ, a Los Angeles home owned by LeBron James has been vandalized, with the n-word spray-painted across the front gate. A VICE Sports call to the LAPD media relations department confirmed the home belonged to James, and that police responded to a complaint around 6 AM Wednesday morning. The property manager has since covered up the damage.

LeBron, who bought the home for $21 million in 2015, was not there at the time, as Game 1 of the NBA Finals tips off Thursday night in Oakland.

TMZ also claims the vandalism is being investigated as a potential hate crime. A 2016 study of LAPD crime data analyzed by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino found that hate crimes have been steadily rising in Los Angeles, and jumped 15 percent in 2016 alone.

Update 5:00 p.m.: LeBron James has commented on the vandalization and, among other things, said that "no matter how much money you have, no matter how famous you are, no matter how many people admire you, being black in America is tough."

ESPN also spoke with a source close to LeBron, who echoed his thoughts on the matter: "You can be a titan of industry, you can be a community leader, you can be the best at what you do and they can cut you down to just, 'You're black.'"

[TMZ]