Melbourne United superstar Chris Goulding has admitted his side hasn’t started preparing for their NBA preseason contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder next week.

United opens the 2017/18 NBL season in Adelaide against the 36ers on Thursday night, before flying to Oklahoma City the next morning. Goulding has declared the team’s focus has solely been on their NBL opener, not the exhibition with the Thunder.

“Everyone has been asking, what have you been doing to prepare for the OKC game?” he told SEN’s The Run Home.

“We literally have not done a thing. All of our preparation has been for playing Adelaide on Thursday night.”

The Sydney Kings opened the NBLxNBA series against the Utah Jazz earlier this week, losing by 25-points. Melbourne’s battle with Oklahoma City will be the middle match in a three-game series, with the Brisbane Bullets meeting the Phoenix Suns on October 14.

After missing the playoffs again last season, United parted ways with coach Dean Demopoulos, bringing in the seasoned NBL mind of Dean Vickerman. The 2014/15 title winning coach with the New Zealand Breakers has brought that successful demeanour to Melbourne, as he aims to steer United into the playoffs.

“Dean has a championship calibre and mentality ingrained in him,” Goulding said.

“Even the tiniest little things we are trying to make sure we are doing them right and to a championship level. There is a great culture around the club and we love having him as our coach.”

Despite being the heavy favourite to win the championship, Goulding conceded, “the reality of the NBL is that teams on paper really mean nothing.”