New Orleans forward Zion Williamson has only positive things to say about his former AAU teammate, Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant.

"The kid back then and the man now, both of them are great dudes," Williamson said. "I don't have anything negative to say about Ja, never will. That's my brother. We all live and we learn, and I can't wait to see him back on the court."

Morant is suspended for the first 25 games of the 2023-24 season after an incident last season in which he flashed a gun on an Instagram Live video. The NBA deemed it conduct detrimental to the league.

The first game of that suspension was Wednesday's season opener at FedExForum between the Grizzlies and Pelicans. Williamson's team came out on top 111-104, with the former Duke star and 2019 No. 1 overall draft pick scoring 23 points and grabbing seven rebounds.

Still, it was another game where Williamson and Morant — who was the No. 2 overall pick in the same draft — did not share the floor.

"It's unfortunate," Williamson said. "I always like competing against Ja. That's my brother. We go back since the (South Carolina) days. Knowing Ja, he's going to come back to the court better than ever."

Has he spoken to Morant recently?

"I'll let Ja decide if he wants to tell y'all that," Williamson said.

Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @thejonahdylan.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant gets love from 'brother' Zion Williamson