On the brink of his return to the NBA Finals, LeBron James solemnly walked into the interview room Wednesday at Oracle Arena. He was not his usual energetic self, as he put it, and he spoke little about basketball.

This was bigger. This was the real world, invading the sports landscape once again.

James offered an eloquent and pointed reaction to the news that his home in Los Angeles was vandalized with a racial slur Wednesday morning. Police are investigating the incident, in which an unidentified person spray-painted the N-word on the front gate of James’ home in the Brentwood neighborhood.

“I look at it like this: If this is to shed a light and continue to keep the conversation going, then I’m OK with it,” he said. “My family is safe, and that’s what’s most important.

“But it just goes to show racism will always be a part of the world, a part of America. Hate in America, especially if you’re African American, is living every day. It’s alive every single day. …

Back to Gallery LeBron James on racial incident: ‘Hate ... is living... 3 1 of 3 Photo: Damian Dovarganes, Associated Press 2 of 3 Photo: Damian Dovarganes, Associated Press 3 of 3 Photo: Elise Amendola, Associated Press





“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. We’ve got a long way to go for us as a society and for us as African Americans until we feel equal in America.”

James and his family weren’t in Los Angeles at the time; they live in Akron, Ohio, during the season, and James was in the Bay Area with his team. The property manager told officers they believe the incident was captured on surveillance video, according to the Associated Press.

Later in the day, James addressed the incident at length on the day before his seventh consecutive Finals appearance. James and his Cleveland Cavaliers face the Warriors in Game 1 on Thursday night.

“I think the most unfortunate part is I’m here right now and I can’t be home to see my boys,” said James, who has two sons and a daughter. “My little girl is too young to understand, but I can’t sit in front of my boys right now and I won’t be home until next week, so it’s kind of killing me inside right now.”

James, 32, has become increasingly outspoken on social and political issues in recent years. Most notably, he has used his fame and platform to criticize police mistreatment of minorities.

In December 2014, he and several other NBA players wore T-shirts with the words, “I Can’t Breathe,” to honor Eric Garner, a New York man who died after a police officer put him in a choke hold. Video captured Garner saying “I can’t breathe” in his final moments.

Now, on the eve of one of the most highly anticipated Finals ever, James again found himself contemplating matters much more serious than basketball. He briefly turned introspective when asked if Wednesday’s incident stirred emotions inside him, and how he might manage those emotions as he turns his attention to Thursday night’s game.

“Obviously, you see I’m not my normal energetic self,” James said. “It will pass. That’s fine. I’m figuring it out. I’m thinking about my kids a lot. …

“I’ll be focused (Thursday) on our game plan and focused on these games. But I also know I’m at a point in my life where my priorities are in place, and basketball comes second to my family.”

Briefly: The Warriors, beyond focusing on James and Kyrie Irving, also need to contain Kevin Love. Love averaged 22.6 points against Boston in the Eastern Conference finals, on 53.5 percent shooting from three-point range. … Draymond Green, who figures to defend Love, said all players are susceptible to trash talk. “Yeah, I agree with him,” Love said, smiling. “He’s one of the best in the game at being a trash talker. It’s part of the game.”

Ron Kroichick is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkroichick@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ronkroichick