ORLANDO, Fla. _ Winter Park (Fla.) High School alum Austin Rivers can't think of a better place to be right now than with the Houston Rockets.
But that doesn't mean Orlando isn't on his mind.
Rivers has found a home with the Rockets, who signed him as a free agent in late December after he was released by the Phoenix Suns. His ability to shoot, get to the basket and defend on the perimeter mirrors what the Rockets do.
"I just saw the way Houston plays," he said before Sunday's game against the Magic at Amway Center. "The things that they needed, I did well."
In the nine games since coming to the Rockets, Rivers has scored in double figures eight times and is averaging 12.2 points a game.
The Suns had acquired Rivers in a three-player trade with the Washington Wizards, who also sent Kelly Oubre Jr. to Phoenix. In return, the Suns traded Trevor Ariza to the Wizards.
Rivers, who helped Winter Park win back-to-back state basketball titles in 2010 and 2011, said he's found what he calls possibly the "best fit" of his career in Houston.
"Very thankful for the opportunity. It's been amazing," he said. "I mean, I knew I could fit in here, but I didn't think it was going to be like this. It hasn't been even a transition. It's like I've been playing here for years. That's what it feels like."
His appreciation comes after his struggles in Washington. In 29 games with the Wizards, Rivers averaged 7.2 points a game, playing an average of 23 minutes a night.
He averaged a career-best 15.1 points, 4 rebounds and 2.4 assists for the Clippers last season before being traded to the Wizards in the offseason.
His time in Washington, however, didn't deter his desire to play.
"Sometimes you hang your head a little bit because you want things to work out. God just has a way," Rivers said. "You just stay with it and keep it professional, do things the right way and sometimes things can just kind of come to you. You've just got to be ready for it. I'm just so thankful."
Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni lauded Rivers' versatility and has been particularly impressed with his defense. Rivers' presence certainly has helped make up for the production lost from injuries to point guard Chris Paul and shooting Eric Gordon.
"I think he can really defend. He gives us a toughness out front. You can put him on point guards and he allows us to do things defensively," D'Antoni said of Rivers. "He hits big shots and he's gritty. I'm trying to think of something he doesn't do well.
"He does a lot for us. He's a great pickup."
With his father, Doc Rivers, coaching the Clippers, Rivers makes his home in Los Angeles. But Rivers said putting on the Magic uniform someday would fulfill a childhood dream. He said Orlando will "always" be home.
"Playing in Orlando, that would be really cool," said Rivers, whose mother, Kristen, was among the family in attendance at Sunday night's game. "I've always had a dream as a kid of, obviously, playing for my hometown team. Any player that says they don't want to play for their hometown team, they're lying."
