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Houston Rockets rookie Luther Head is having a very solid first season, averaging 9.1 points and 2.2 rebounds per game in a backup role. The 6-3, 185-point point guard, who went to the University of Illinois, has started his NBA career shooting 15-of-30 from three-point range. InsideHoops.com met with Head back on November 12 in New Jersey, after a game won by Houston thanks to incredible play from Tracy McGrady, who had just returned from a back injury.

InsideHoops.com: How's the season going for you so far?

Luther Head: It's going great. Especially with my teammates, being around these guys. A lot of fun guys. Everything's just great.

InsideHoops.com: Going back to the 2005 NBA draft, did you know or expect Houston to take you?

Luther Head: No, I didn't. I had no clue. I had no idea where I was going in the draft. When I heard my name called, I was happy.

InsideHoops.com: So you hadn't specifically heard Houston or another team?

Luther Head: I was totally clueless.

InsideHoops.com: And how'd you spend the summer?

Luther Head: Just did a lot of working out, trying to get better.

InsideHoops.com: What's your impression of the NBA so far, as compared to college?

Luther Head: The talent level is just so much better. When you got guys like Tracy, Yao and Vince, Richard Jefferson and Kidd. The talent level is just crazy.

InsideHoops.com: And McGrady, he went off tonight. It was ridiculous.

Luther Head: Man, it was crazy. I was in amazement, and I was on the floor. It's my first time seeing something like that up close and personal, but I wasn't too surprised that he got us in this game. That's him. That's why he's Tracy McGrady.

InsideHoops.com: What goes through your mind while you're on the floor and seeing that happen?

Luther Head: If you saw me on the floor during the game, I just kept shaking my head. Every time he made a shot, I was in amazement.

InsideHoops.com: And do you say to yourself, OK, stay away and just keep feeding him the ball?

Luther Head: Yeah, that's what comes around. Whenever you have a guy hot like that, you have to give him the ball as much as possible.

InsideHoops.com: And as for you, what skills of yours do you think are ready right now, and what needs to be worked on?

Luther Head: I got to work on everything. The NBA is a tough place. I'm just trying to work on everything, just to get better and better and better.

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