A 6' 10" (2.08 m) center from Kings River Community College and Arizona State University, he was selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round (48th overall) of the 1991 NBA draft.

With renewed confidence, Austin averaged 9.7 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Heat and received the NBA Most Improved Player Award in 1997.

Austin had his best season in 1997–1998, when he averaged 13.5 points and 7.1 rebounds while playing for the Heat and the Los Angeles Clippers (to whom he was traded midseason for Brent Barry).

Austin was traded to the Washington Wizards for Ben Wallace, Terry Davis, Tim Legler, and Jeff McInnis after one season with the Magic, and the Wizards later traded him to the Vancouver Grizzlies for Cherokee Parks, Obinna Ekezie, Dennis Scott, and Felipe Lopez.

From 2004 to 2005, Austin was owner and head coach of the Utah Snowbears, a team in the American Basketball Association.