Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

There are three things for certain in this world: Death, Taxes and Damian Lillard winning NBA Rookie of the Year in 2013.

While his success with the Portland Trail Blazers certainly ranks as one of the more pleasant surprises amongst rookies this season, there are those first-year players who have failed to make a great impression with their respective teams right off the bat.

Granted, it’s still very early, and the potential is there for serious improvement and growth in the near future, but for now, these five gentleman have to be considered the most disappointing of the lot.

5) F THOMAS ROBINSON (Houston Rockets) *Drafted #5 overall by the Sacramento Kings

2012-13 statistics: 4.8 points, 42% from the field, 4.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.5 steals, 0.4 blocks

I had such high hopes for Thomas Robinson once he was drafted by the Kings. Sacramento was a team in disarray, so one would only assume that Robinson could step in right away and get a heavy dose of minutes.

Well, that never panned out. He was never able to edge out a regular spot in the rotation, averaging just 15 minutes per game. He was recently dealt in a six-player trade to the Houston Rockets, so hopefully he can secure some more stable playing time in a new environment.

I reserve the right to one day remove Thomas from the list, as I believe a change of scenery will do wonders for his game.

Until then, just by looking at his body of work up until now, Robinson has clearly been a major disappointment. He’s a high character guy with a good head on his shoulders, so here’s to him turning it around with the Rockets and making a name for himself in a new city.

Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

4) F PERRY JONES III (Oklahoma City Thunder) *Drafted #28 overall

2012-13 statistics: 29 games played, 1.9 points, 37% from the field, 1.4 rebounds, 0.3 assists, 0.1 steals, o.2 blocks

It’s hard to call someone drafted as low as Jones a disappointment, but I firmly believed (and still do) that the Thunder got an absolute steal when they took Perry with the 28th pick, despite the potential knee problems he may have had.

Heck, at one point in time, Jones was projected as a top-3 pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. That’s saying something.

Trying to carve out a role with a championship-caliber team is always difficult. He was never going to surpass guys like Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison in the rotation, but I thought he’d at least have some sort of positive role by this point. He’s too talented not to be used in some capacity.

Jones has had a few stints with the Tulsa 66ers of the D-League this season, so at least he’s had a chance to play some basketball, rather than rotting at the end of the bench all year. It’s going to take a while for him to adjust to the pro game, but in time, you will see more of Perry Jones III in the NBA. I hope.

Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

3) G KENDALL MARSHALL (Phoenix Suns) *Drafted #13 overall

2012-13 statistics: 25 games played, 2.1 points, 39% from the field, 0.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 0.2 steals, 0.0 blocks

With Steve Nash ending his tenure with the franchise to try to go win an NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers, the starting point guard slot in Phoenix was fair game.

Phoenix selected guard Kendall Marshall out of the University of North Carolina, hoping that they could strike gold at the position, as several rookie point guards over the years had gone on to become big time players around the league.

I’m not saying Marshall can’t one day reach that level, but for now, he hasn’t shown the fans in Phoenix much of his game to warrant any high praise. He’s spent most of the season as the third-string point guard, getting little to no playing time. It was only after the Suns traded backup guard Sebastian Telfair to the Toronto Raptors that Kendall finally started to see the court on a more consistent basis, if you can even call it that.

With little depth at the position on the roster, Phoenix doesn’t have much of a choice now but to put him out there, develop his skills and hope for the best.

Oct 17, 2012; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets forward Royce White (30) dribbles up court against the Memphis Grizzliesduring the fourth quarter at the Toyota Center. The Rockets won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

The war between the Houston Rockets and rookie Royce White rages on.

The team has officially suspended White indefinitely after he refused his assignment to the NBA Developmental league one week ago. Royce is owed $3 million over the first two years of his contract, but he will not be paid while suspended.

Rockets as expected have suspended Royce White 1 week after he refused assignment to the D League.

— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) January 6, 2013

This should not come as any surprise to the Rockets rookie, as he had been in talks with General Manger Daryl Morey all week with hopes of reaching an agreement that would see White join the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

“The Houston Rockets have suspended Royce White effective immediately for refusing to provide services as requires by his Uniform Player Contract,” Morey said in a statement. “We will continue to work with Royce to hopefully come to a resolution.”

As he tends to do, Royce took to his Twitter account (Highway_30) to voice his displeasure with the Rockets decision.

Threat, Fines, Suspension won’t deter me. I won’t accept illogical health decisions, I will keep asking for safety & health. #BeWell @dmorey

— Royce White (@Highway_30) January 6, 2013

Again the @houstonrockets management has gone against what THEIR OWN docs have declared & their own words. #Illogical twitter.com/Highway_30/sta…

— Royce White (@Highway_30) January 6, 2013

During a recent interview on Sirius XM Satellite Radio, White discussed the very real possibility that he may never step on an NBA court and compete again.

“I think that the chances are very high (that he’ll never play). And I say that just like I said before the Draft that the chances were very high that I didn’t even get drafted. Because business in America, as we all know, is about one thing and that’s convenience and efficiency.  And oftentimes what the efficient thing to do is not the healthiest thing to do, right?  That’s why we still sell cigarettes.

“It wouldn’t shock me if we couldn’t be logical and say a protocol is needed because it’ll be the hard thing to do.  If that’s the case then so be it.  I stand on what I say and I refuse to put myself in a hazardous situation to play a sport.”

White has not played since being taken with the 16th overall pick in this past summers draft. He left the Rockets on November 16th, citing a lack of support for his anxiety disorder as the main issue.

Chris Walder is the Lead Editor for Sir Charles In Charge. You may follow him on Twitter @WalderSports