OKC Thunder superstar Kevin Durant is likely headed back to Seattle, where his NBA career began. KD is one of the NBA stars (along with Jeff Green) expected to take part in Jamal Crawford’s Pro-Am this weekend. Read more after the jump.
Per the Seattle Times: “The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar and Jeff Green, who starred with Durant during their one season in Seattle, are expected to be the headliners this weekend at the Jamal Crawford Summer Pro-Am. For a league that bills itself as ‘All Hoop, No Hype,’ promoting the return of the former Sonics goes against the pro-am’s mantra. There’s also no guarantee Durant or Green will show up. However, tournament organizers are preparing for big turnouts at Seattle Pacific University, where the games are played. Green is expected to play 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Durant is scheduled to play 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5. ‘I’m usually hesitant about making these kinds of announcements until I see guys actually walk into the gym, but Jamal tells me this is a done deal,’ said tournament director Rashaad Powell. ‘The flights are booked. The hotel reservations are set. Now we’re just waiting for the show. And it should be a great show.’ If the former Sonics stars return, give credit to Crawford. He has been working to secure NBA stars such as Blake Griffin and Kyrie Irving to compete in his summer tournament, which includes college and high school players. Several NBA standouts including Tyreke Evans, Martell Webster and Isaiah Thomas have competed this summer. But landing Durant was the top priority.
This isn’t the first time Durant and Green have been scheduled to play in Seattle. Two years ago, they were included in an lineup of NBA stars for a charity game that was ultimately canceled. ‘Kevin was going to do it in the past, but one year we had the lockout and last year it just didn’t work out because he was in the Olympics,’ Crawford said weeks ago. ‘He’s always wanted to come back and play in Seattle. It’s just a matter of finding the right time.’ Durant, the Sonics’ No. 2 pick in the 2007 draft, last played in Seattle five years ago in a game Sonics fans may never forget. Back then, the 19-year-old scoring sensation led the Sonics to a 99-95 comeback victory over the playoff-bound Dallas Mavericks. It was an emotional game for the 16,272 in the stands who alternately chanted in support of the local team and against its new owner, Clay Bennett, who relocated the team after 41 years in Seattle.”
