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Webster, Goulding to be NBL's next NBA products

Melbourne United must start winning. (AAP Image/ SNPA, Ross Setford)
Expert
4th November, 2015
0

Chris Goulding and Corey Webster are on track to be the next NBL players to showcase their talents in the NBA. For both it is a case of nothing but hard work.

Only five years ago both Goulding and Webster were beginning their NBL careers and, despite their talent, there was no guarantee they would even make it as stars locally.

Fast forward to 2015 and Webster was New Zealand’s leading scorer at last year’s FIBA World Cup, is a three-time NBL championship winner, and narrowly missed out on an NBA contract with the New Orleans Pelicans on the eve of the 2015-16 season.

Goulding too has been close to an NBA deal before, then spent last season in Spain and represented the Australian Boomers at the World Cup. He has returned to the NBL with Melbourne United and helped lead them to a 7-0 start.

Through hard work, Webster and Goulding have turned themselves into players who can score from any position on the court, whether hitting open threes, contested triples, pull-up jumpers, mid-range shots or by getting to the basket.

There is every chance that if they continue, by next season both will be in the NBA and will be more than handy coming off the bench on any team to provide immediate scoring ability, hustle and energy.

Before that, let’s enjoy both men plying their talents in the NBL for the rest of this season, and they will go up against one another this Sunday at Hisense Arena as Goulding’s Melbourne United host Webster’s New Zealand Breakers.

Goulding’s NBL career began at the Brisbane Bullets and Perth Wildcats, with some opportunities late in the 2008-09 season allowing him to show his scoring potential.

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During three seasons at Gold Coast Blaze his ability to pick up points was getting him noticed. It was when he landed in Melbourne that his game went to the next level, though, at the Tigers.

He averaged 15.5 points a game for the 2012-13 season and then he was the NBL’s leading scorer at 23 points a game in 2013-14, including becoming the only player to score 50 points in a 40-minute game when he lit up the Sydney Kings.

He has since played in the NBA Summer League for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks, spent last season playing with CAI Zaragoza in Spain, is a regular on the Boomers, and if his form this NBL season continues he has an NBA future ahead of him.

Webster’s story is a remarkable one. He deserves credit for the work he’s put in to now be on the verge of joining fellow New Zealander Steven Adams in the NBA, following in the footsteps of Kirk Penney and Sean Marks.

Webster had two years as a development player with the Breakers and was part of the team that won the 2011 championship, but his career was at a crossroads at the 2011-12 season, without an NBL contract.

Nothing but improving his game, fitness and work rate would revive his career, and that’s exactly what he did. His three seasons since have seen him become one of the best shooters and scorers in the NBL.

His all-round game – including ability to get open and run through screens, and handle and distribute the ball – has significantly improved, as has his defence, making him one of the best players in the NBL.

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He continues to get better, having averaged career-best 8.5 points in 2013-14 and then 15.5 in 2014-15 as he became a star of last season’s championship – his third with the Breakers.

Webster has also proven himself on the world stage, averaging 13.7 points a game for New Zealand at last year’s World Cup. Most recently he impressed in his time with the Pelicans in the NBA, narrowly missing a final roster spot.

His return to the Breakers the past two weeks has seen him top-score in wins over Sydney and Cairns, including putting up a career-best 35 points against the Taipans.

If he keeps that up for the rest of this season not only could it mean he gets that NBA contract next season, but it makes the Breakers a chance at a fifth championship in six years.

The only problem is Melbourne United, who look the team to beat with Goulding leading the way.

Round 5 NBL fixtures
All times AEDT, all games televised live on Fox Sports News

Wednesday
Townsville Crocodiles vs Perth Wildcats, Townsville Entertainment Centre, 7:30pm

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Thursday
New Zealand Breakers vs Adelaide 36ers, North Shore Events Centre, 5:30pm
Sydney Kings vs Melbourne United, Qantas Credit Union Arena, 7:30pm

Friday
Illawarra Hawks vs Cairns Taipans, WIN Entertainment Centre, 7:30pm
Perth Wildcats vs Townsville Crocodiles, Perth Arena, 9:30pm

Saturday
Adelaide 36ers vs Sydney Kings, Titanium Security Arena, 7:30pm

Sunday
Melbourne United vs New Zealand Breakers, Hisense Arena, 3pm (also televised on GO!)

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