Association beginning tomorrow as dozens of the league's star players converge on the island for five days of mostly recreational activity.

While it remains unclear whether two of the NBA's brightest stars, Michael Jordan of the three-time champion Chicago Bulls or Charles Barkley of the Western Division champion Phoenix Suns, will be part of the glittering entourage, the island will be visited by players -- and their accompanying families, friends and agents -- from almost all of the league's 27 member teams.

Jordan, a frequent visitor to Bermuda, was here only a week after the Bulls captured their third consecutive NBA title last month. Easily the NBA's most recognizable player, Jordan was a guest at the Marriott's Castle Harbour Hotel and spent several days playing golf.

Golf is precisely what many of the NBA stars will be concentrating on during their stay here until next Monday, a mini-vacation at the Sonesta Beach Hotel in Southampton.

The players are planning to play exclusively at the Port Royal Golf Club in Southampton and will participate in at least two boat cruises -- on the Bermuda Longtail and the Hawkins' Island Pirate cruise where they will be guests at a barbeque.

Among the basketball professionals visiting will be veteran centre Mark West of the Suns, who is coming off his tenth season in the NBA and seventh play-off appearance.

During the 1992-93 season West averaged almost six points a game and continued his impressive ironman streak by playing in all 82 games for the fifth straight year.

Eddie Johnson, a veteran forward and play-off stalwart for the Seattle Supersonics, will use the holiday as an opportunity to soothe his disappointment at narrowly missing a trip to the NBA Finals.

Johnson almost singlehandedly defeated Phoenix in game seven of the Western Conference finals when he netted 34 points. Seattle eventually lost that game 123-110. Johnson was third in scoring for the Sonics, averaging 14.4 points per game, netting 1,177 points during the season, the 11th straight year he has gone over the 1,000 point mark.

Derrick Coleman, a power forward with the New Jersey Nets, Mark Eaton, starting centre for the Utah Jazz and Mike Sanders, a forward with the Cleveland Cavaliers are also included on the tour.

Sanders -- another 10-year veteran -- averaged 8.6 points per game for the Cavs last season, helping the Central Division team to a second place finish behind the Bulls. They were eventually knocked out of the play-offs by Chicago in the second round.

Also visiting will be Herb Williams, a power centre with the Eastern Conference finalists New York Knicks and Wayman Tisdale, the all-time scoring leader for the Sacramento Kings since the team moved from Kansas City to California in 1985. Last season Tisdale averaged over 16 points and six rebounds per game and started 75 games for the 25-57 Kings.

The power forward was also a member of the NBA's All-Rookie team as a member of the Indiana Pacers in 1985.

Williams is a veteran pivotman and a key member of the Knicks' backup squad, providing dependable play behind centre Patrick Ewing. Last season he had three double-digit scoring games and three 10 rebound efforts.

Bermuda is among several places chosen each summer as ideal vacation destinations for members of the NBA Players' Association, who tend to travel in large groups. At least 90 people are included in this current tour.

Leading the basketballers will be Paul Sansone, an official with the players' association. He will be assisted by former NBA star Alex English, who was instrumental in the formation of the players' union and a one-time star with the Denver Nuggets and Detroit Pistons.

Dallas Mavericks' forward Randy White will find Bermuda the perfect place to forget about his the 11-71 season his team endured in 1992-93. White did have a couple of memorable games last season, a 30-point one against Phoenix and 31 points against Portland, both career highs.

As a member of the Washington Bullets, star point guard Mike Adams also endured a season with a team which did not make the play-offs. But he ranked 13th in the league in assists per game (7.5 average), leading the Bullets in that category. Adams was a member of the NBA All-Star team in 1991-92 when he was Washington's leading scorer, averaging 18 points a game.

Other NBA players coming here will be former star Lafayette `Fats' Lever, Jeff Turner of the Orlando Magic, Todd Lichti of the Denver Nuggets, Frank Brickowski of the Milwaukee Bucks, Tyrone Corbin of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Olden Polynice of the Detroit Pistons and former Pistons and current Magic coach Tree Rollins.

MICHAEL JORDAN -- Pictured during a golf match here two years ago, the NBA star could be amongst a host of top basketball players vacationing in Bermuda this weekend.