CG43 on the cusp of a pair of long-range milestones

No player is perhaps as synonymous with Melbourne United as Chris Goulding, and no shot is as synonymous with Chris Goulding as the three pointer.

One of his primary weapons since joining the Melbourne Tigers in 2012, Goulding is on the cusp of ticking off a pair of momentous milestones as a long-range bomber.

Goulding’s 877 three-pointers across his NBL career leave him one triple away from moving into the top-15 all-time for long range makes.

Melbourne United Head Coach Dean Vickerman said what CG43 has done as a shooter leading up to this point in his career leaves him amongst the greatest marksmen the league has ever seen.

“When you talk about the difficulty of shots he can take and make, I’d have to put him in the top three in the NBL that I’ve ever seen,” he said.

“We know how unique he is. There’s very few people able to do what he can, certainly in Australia, and even on the world stage.

“The ability to shoot it from long range, but also the ability to shoot it off balance. Good shooters have to get open… the way he sets up cuts and sprints to create separation, you can see why Caleb (Agada) said he’s (Steph) Curry-like.”

This ability didn’t just come overnight, with Vickerman adding Goulding's work ethic in the gym is second to none.

“What I’ve seen in my five years with United is a guy who has crazy standards for himself in terms of what he needs to achieve before he leaves the gym.

“He strives for excellence in the way that he goes about honing his craft.”

599 of CG’s 877 three-pointers have come wearing a United uniform, for which he holds the record for most made threes since the club rebranded.

Goulding will be the first United player to ever make 600 triples for the club, an achievement long-time teammate David Barlow (who is second in three-pointers made for United with 285) believes doesn’t even scratch the surface of the skill CG brings to the court every night.

“These milestones don’t actually do him justice.

“When I look at him as a shooter and a scorer compared with anyone who I’ve seen throughout my career, he’s got to be up there with the best.”

Moving through his seventh season alongside Chris, Barlow said he is grateful to have played alongside Goulding for so long.

“As a teammate he’s brilliant… I’m very grateful to have him.

“On the court in the quest to win a game to have him by your side is a very handy proposition, but I’m even more grateful to have been around him as a person… I cherish having him as a teammate for so long.”

Watch Goulding continue shooting his way into the record books on New Year’s Day, as United take on the Tasmania JackJumpers on the road from 5.30pm.

The game will be streamed on ESPN and Kayo.