Reigning Rookie of the Year Ja Morant had nothing but praise for New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson's NBA Christmas Day performance. The Memphis Grizzlies point guard tweeted his support for Williamson.

These kind words from Morant were preceded by a 44-point performance on his opening night with the Grizzlies against the San Antonio Spurs where they lost 131-119. According to Collin Ward-Henninger of CBS Sports, Morant now holds the record for the youngest to ever score 40 or more points in a season opener, passing one of the most dominant big men to ever play the game, Shaquille O'Neal.

Williamson still managed to average 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists while only playing 24 games this past season. This 32-point performance, the second time an under-21-year-old scored as much on Christmas since LeBron James, is one of many to come this season, as the Pelicans need Williamson to perform every game in order to power through the Western Conference.

The new generation of basketball, led by young superstars Morant and Williamson, instills the mindset of hard work and dedication into NBA fans across the world, as these players are competing against some of the best basketball players in the world right out of college. The mutual respect that these players have for each other's games is a refreshing sight to see, and hopefully, the NBA universe continues to be amazed by the talent that not only Morant and Williamson have to offer, but all of the youth in the league.

It will be exciting to see these young individuals compete and make a possible run at the playoffs, a task both could not accomplish in the previous year.