Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies has completed the first of his 25-game suspension from the NBA, and will miss 24 more games before being permitted to return. This was his first absence against the New Orleans Pelicans and his good friend Zion Williamson, who claimed that the star point guard would be “better than ever” when he returned.

“It’s unfortunate,” Williamson remarked in response to Morant’s absence, according to Jonah Dillon of the Memphis Commercial Appeal. “I enjoy playing against Ja. That’s my younger brother. We’ve known each other since (South Carolina) days. Knowing Ja, he’ll return to the court stronger than ever.”

Many people have written off Morant, but Williamson is not one of them. Williamson understands what it’s like to be out for a lengthy period of time and then return; it’s just a different cause for Morant’s absence right now. Williamson, who has always supported his old friend, is eager to see Morant return to the court, which cannot come soon enough for the Grizzlies and their fans.

Memphis’ first 25 games will be difficult, as this opener against New Orleans demonstrated, but the team will have one of the finest players in the league returning to the starting lineup once his 25-game suspension is served. Memphis must find manufacturing elsewhere for the time being.