Zion Williamson, the first overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, is yet to suit up for the New Orleans Pelicans in the regular season as he deals with a knee issue.

But Williamson is nearing a return to the court, and on Friday night he was in attendance at Madison Square Garden as the Pelicans handed a Knicks a 123-111 loss.

In the loss, Williamson's former Duke teammate RJ Barrett scored 16 points to go along with eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Overall, Barrett has averaged 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game, showing a high level of maturity while taking on a prominent role for this Knicks team.

Speaking in the Pelicans' locker room after the game, Williamson said he's not surprised by what Barrett's already been able to accomplish in New York.

"He's done well. He's a rookie and to come in to a city like New York, I think he's been doing great," Williamson said. "He may not have the record he probably wants because I know he's a competitor. But for a rookie to come in and handle New York the way he is, he's been doing great."

Williamson and Barrett were able to exchange a few words after the game's final buzzer, and Williamson said that the two still keep in contact with one another as their NBA careers continue to grow.

"Oh yeah, that's my brother. We always talk," Williamson said. "We're still competitive. We check on each other. I haven't been playing so he's kind of got the lead at the moment, but we're always checking in."

Meanwhile, Barrett said he was happy to see his former teammate in person on Friday, and he's eagerly awaiting Williamson's return to action.

"I talked to him a couple of times today. It was great. It was great to see him," Barrett said. "I gave him a big hug and he's really happy. I really want him back. I really hope to see him back on the court real soon."

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