LOS ANGELES, California -- LeBron James' California home was targeted by vandals, who spray-painted a racial slur on the front gate of the property, Los Angeles police said.
The vandalism was reported at around 6:45 a.m. Los Angeles Police Department officials said the basketball star was not home at the time of the incident.
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Capt. Patricia Sandoval, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department, told The Associated Press that the property manager told officers they believe the incident was captured on surveillance video.
By 9:30 a.m., the racial slur was covered up by property management, police said.
The incident is technically being investigated as a hate crime, though the crime has yet to be classified as such. The LAPD's West L.A. Division is investigating the incident.
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James' agent, Rich Paul, declined to comment. James and the Cleveland Cavaliers play the Golden State Warriors in NBA Finals beginning Thursday night, with Game 1 in Oakland.
Watch the NBA Finals on ABC7 starting Thursday, May 7.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)