Kevin Durant is returning to Seattle.

The former Sonics star is one of several players highlighting an NBA charity game organized by Jamal Crawford that will be played Dec. 15 at Edmundson Pavilion.

"Kevin and I played in three different all-star games together and after the first one, he was like 'I want to come home, I want to come back to Seattle,' " Crawford said. "He wants to come a week earlier to work out with me and Brandon (Roy) and the guys. He's excited about coming back.

"I don't think he's been back ever since they left. And honestly, he's mentioned playing this game in Seattle about 4-5 times. So it was important that we get him."

Proceeds from the Jamal Crawford H206 Classic benefit the A PLUS Youth Program and the Jamal Crawford Foundation.

Former Sonics Nick Collison and Jeff Green are also scheduled to play along with ex-Washington stars Brandon Roy, Nate Robinson, Spencer Hawes and Isaiah Thomas, and local NBA products Jason Terry and Terrence Williams. Other players include: Baron Davis, LaMarcus Aldridge, John Wall, Rudy Gay, Brandon Jennings and DeMar DeRozan.

The NBA lockout has produced several charity all-star games across the city, and Crawford said it's been his dream to bring the NBA back to Seattle.

He helped organize and played in a July charity game that drew 5,070 to KeyArena and is hoping the December game will sell out the 10,000-seat UW pavilion. Tickets ranging from $15 to $150 are available at www.eventbrite.com

"It's going to be huge especially with Seattle not having professional basketball and the closest thing we have is homegrown players," Crawford said. "There's so many different stars who are excited about coming here."

Durant spent one year in Seattle, where he won the 2007-08 Rookie of the Year award. When the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City, he became an NBA superstar with the Thunder. Durant has appeared in two All-Star Games and twice won the NBA scoring title.

"For everybody, Kevin was the last major superstar we had while the Sonics were here because he replaced Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis," Crawford said. "For him to come back and be a homecoming of sorts for him, that just makes this whole thing extra exciting."