NEW YORK— The NBA broke its attendance record for the third straight year, drawing more than 21.8 million fans during the 2006-07 season.

The league also surpassed its previous best by averaging 17,757 fans. The previous best marks were set last season, when the average of 17,558 fans led to a total of just under 21.6 million.

The top three teams in average attendance are all from the Central Division: Chicago (22,253); Detroit (22,076), and Cleveland (20,436).

Orlando, Portland, the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston all had attendance increases between 7 percent and 10 percent. The league had 600 sellouts, up from 471 last season and the most in over a decade.

"We are grateful for our fans' continued support," commissioner David Stern said. "The third straight year of record attendance reflects the NBA's ever-increasing popularity, as the world's greatest athletes continue to display the passion and dedication they bring to this great game."

NEVADA DUO ENTERS DRAFT: Nevada junior guards Marcelus Kemp and Ramon Sessions will enter the NBA draft in June, but without agents so they'll retain the option of returning to school next fall, coach Mark Fox said Thursday. The two players have filed early-entry paperwork with the NBA and have until June 18 to decide whether to withdraw from the draft, scheduled June 28.

MCHALE, WITTMAN TO RETURN: Vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said Thursday he will return to the Minnesota Timberwolves next season, as will coach Randy Wittman and star Kevin Garnett. In a season-ending news conference, McHale addressed a long, frustrating year in which his Wolves finished 32-50 and missed the playoffs for the third straight season. Many fans have become frustrated with McHale for not surrounding Garnett with a better, more competitive team. One such fan was kicked out of Wednesday night's season finale against Memphis for holding a sign that read, "Fire McHale!"

MUSSELMAN'S FUTURE IN DOUBT: Eric Musselman was hired to coach the Sacramento Kings when the team decided that eight straight playoff appearances weren't enough to save Rick Adelman's job. After failing to take the Kings to the postseason in his first year at the helm, Musselman's job is already in jeopardy. Following the earliest ending to a season in Sacramento in nearly a decade, Musselman and team president Geoff Petrie are set to begin evaluations of what went wrong this season. "My office is right next door to Geoff and sure Geoff and I will talk like we do every day," Musselman said. "Geoff will meet with the players and I will meet with the players and we'll start focusing in on summer league and get ready for the draft." While Musselman said he expects to be back following a 33-49 season, that's no sure thing. The Kings could decide to let him go and pay him the reported $5 million he's owed over the final two years of his deal.