Steph Curry praises Kiwi link to Golden State Warriors' remarkable NBA domination

Chelsea Lane joined the NBA Champions in 2015.
SCREENSHOT/NBA.COM

Chelsea Lane joined the NBA Champions in 2015.

A New Zealand Olympics physiotherapist has been credited with helping the Golden State Warriors dominate the United States basketball scene.

The Warriors have just beaten the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 to win their third title in four years.

Chelsea Lane joined them in 2015 with the remarkable run under way.

Lane (top right) watches on from behind head coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors bench.
BOB LEVEY/GETTY IMAGES

Lane (top right) watches on from behind head coach Steve Kerr and the Warriors bench.

The Australian had just finished nine years with High Performance Sport New Zealand where she had helped Kiwi Olympians and other top athletes.

Now she's an integral part of the Warriors' set-up, some suggesting she's multi-talented as in: psychologist, doctor, adviser, trainer, friend and even part-time comedian.

"She's been huge, just being there for us," Golden State superstar Steph Curry told the San Francisco Chronicle.

"Every guy kind of copes with injuries differently ... she's been big in helping us through the recovery process and kind of giving us the game plan of how we can get back on the floor."

Curry was a special project for Lane this year. When he was sidelined with ankle and knee injuries in March and April, she stayed in Oakland to work on him while the team was on road trips.

He said her pep talks during treatment helped him through some tough times and she often used jokes when she sensed Curry was down.

"She's been amazing, especially for me," Curry said. "Just thinking about all that I've been through this year with the ankle and the knee and all that type of stuff, she's just kept me sane."

Lane goes by the title of head performance therapist at the franchise and now manages a staff of 25 people who look after the Warriors squad both physically and mentally.

She is said to have a "steely demeanour" - a necessity for a woman in a business run by men - but has let her personality shine as she has grown into the job.

"Being able to get her message across with some humour and some wit, I think that's pretty special," guard Shaun Livingston said. "She's done an outstanding job."