The most recent Locked On episode from the last 30 days that directly mentions Stephen Curry.
Locked OnLocked On Fantasy Basketball
Oct 12, 2026Fantasy Basketball Mock Draft - Category Pick 12
OVERVIEW Today's episode is all about navigating a 12-spot, third-round reversal, 9-category fantasy basketball mock draft. I break down my controversial choice to take Austin Reaves at pick 12, walk through my team-building logic on the turn, and highlight how wild fluctuations in ADP and draft strategy can completely reshape your options—even when nothing about the player pool has changed. This is a practical look at high-variance draft positions, unexpected value picks, and what it means for your own draft day approach in fantasy basketball. KEY TAKEAWAYS Drafting from pick 12 forces uncomfortable decisions, often between riskier high-upside picks (injury-prone stars) and stable but maybe unspectacular options. I built my team around Austin Reaves at 12 for a scenario test, even though most would avoid him there. There can be massive differences between platform rankings (Yahoo’s first round: Jokic, Wembanyama, Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, etc.) and my own projections—many default site ranks shouldn't dictate your picks, especially when they elevate players like Jalen Johnson or Tyrese Haliburton higher than practical. Playing the third-round reversal changes draft dynamics—don’t assume value will fall the same way at the turn as in standard snake drafts. The double pick gives you power but also exposes you to missing tier runs quickly. Recent mock drafts have seen wild ADP swings (e.g., Jalen Duren being picked at 30 after going at 50 in the previous mock). You should treat each draft as its own ecosystem and not follow last draft’s results as a blueprint. Don’t overvalue the outputs of any single mock draft or ADP list. I caution against copying my picks or strategies straight up—contextual awareness and draft adaptability matter much more than replicating someone else’s queue. Opting for stable contributors over players with injury or volatility risk (e.g., skipping Kawhi Leonard, LaMelo Ball, Kyrie Irving, and Stephen Curry in this build) is a viable but not always popular route at the end of the first round. Not all “late” picks deliver upside. In the final rounds, I regret flyer picks like Mikal Brown and would pivot in hindsight. Late draft value is highly context dependent. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction 1:03 Mock draft overview and strategy at pick 12 7:03 Round-by-round player selections and live draft reactions 22:04 Adjusting to trends and volatility in late rounds 34:06 Draft recap, projections, and closing thoughts Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast . Betterhelp This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA . KALSHI Today's episode is brought to you by Kalshi. For a limited time, Download Kalshi and use code Locked On to get $25 when you trade $25. Kalshi. Trade what’s next. PrizePicks Visit https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONNBA and use code LOCKEDONNBA and get $150 if you win your first $5 lineup! Gametime Today's episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club , featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER : 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Visit Josh Lloyd Fantasy for more Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
