Blake Griffin's unfortunate kneecap mishap has thrown a wrench into the Rookie of the Year race. Everyone and their cousin expected the top pick in the 2009 Draft to stand head and shoulders above the crop of guys selected behind him, following in Derrick Rose's footsteps and living up to the hype. In most minds, none of the other guys even stood a chance.

Roughly four of five NBA general managers responding to NBA.com's annual preview survey tabbed the Clippers' prized acquisition the evenutal winner, but unless he's absolutely dominant upon his return and the rest of his rookie peers are downright dreadful, the biggest perceived lock of this season's individual awards will wind up incorrect.

The current prognosis for Griffin is that he'll be out the season's first six weeks, which would cost him about 25 games. Since it's a leg injury, you would then expect that he'll struggle to get his rhythm back and that L.A. will be extra careful with keeping him from over-extending himself. We could be about halfway done before we start to see the player that looked so impressive in summer league and preseason play, and that's probably not going to leave enough time to make up ground on his peers.

I slip probably in there as a caveat because carrying the Clippers into the playoffs with a strong second half would gain him some sentiment, but the odds are no longer in his favor. History isn't either, as consecutive No. 1 picks haven't taken top rookie honors since Allen Iverson and Tim Duncan went back-to-back in '97 and '98.

If not Griffin, then who?

I've written since draft night that Brandon Jennings was my Rookie-of-the-year choice. Loved the player and the fit, so long as Ramon Sessions was allowed to skip town. As it stands now, he's starting and shining, giving him a distinct advantage over most of the rookie field.

Suddenly, a race most predicted would be the Griffin Invitational looks wide open, so we're going to follow it a little more closely. Check back every week for our look at the Rookie of the Year race -- and let's face it, to see how pompous I'll be if I'm right about Jennings. After all, there's also the morbidly entertaining possibility that I'm horribly wrong.

With a small sampling of games in, here's how the field currently stacks up:

1. Brandon Jennings, Milwaukee: The house favorite wrestled the starting job away from veteran Luke Ridnour in a decision that's all the more interesting because it's Scott Skiles who made it. Skiles takes no bull and coaches the way he played the point guard position, smart and hard. Jennings, already perceived to have baggage since he defied convention and skipped college for a European adventure -- not to mention the Joe Budden fiasco -- convinced Skiles that he gives his team their best shot and hasn't disappointed. Jennings will have the ball in his hands often, giving him ample opportunities to impress or alienate his coach. The early returns have been great, but Jennings will likely have to overcome a lopsided Bucks record in order to walk away with the hardware.

2. Stephen Curry, Golden State: He nearly played 40 minutes in his second game and may ultimately be the most utilized rookie this season, though that's hard to tell for sure with fickle coach Don Nelson pulling the strings. For now, the pride of Davidson College is staying on Nellie's good side by playing with confidence and taking advantage of his opportunities, be it in the halfcourt or in transition.

3. Jonny Flynn, Minnesota: He's made GM David Kahn look good early, scoring in double-figures in his first four games and fueling a rally that delived the Timberwolves their first and only win. Even with Sessions on board, it's clear that the Syracuse product is going to be a major factor all season, lifting up his teammates with his electric speed and enthusiasm.

4. Tyreke Evans, Sacramento: A bum ankle has put a damper on his first week, as he was able to play just 24 minutes in Monday's home opener. Backup Beno Udrih came in for him and led a Kings comeback over Memphis, but Evans shouldn't worry about losing his spot. Given the rebuilding job Paul Westphal has on his hands, he's got to throw the kid back out there when healthy and let him learn on the job. Evans is in for some rough nights, but already has a 22-point game to his credit and should deliver a few eye-openers, too.

5. DeJuan Blair, San Antonio: A double-double his first time out further shamed all the teams that passed on his services in June, allowing the Spurs to get richer at pick No. 37. Carved out of the same mold as Utah's Paul Millsap and Houston's Carl Landry, Blair uses his bulky frame expertly and should be a top rebounds-per-minute guy all season.

6. Terrence Williams, New Jersey: A stat-sheet stuffer at Louisville, he racked up 15 points and 10 rebounds in the season opener and should get ample opportunites to put up numbers with a Nets team that's basically starting over from scratch. T-Will doesn't short-change you on effort, and may even have to tone it down a bit so it's safe for the other nine guys on the floor.

7. DeMar DeRozan, Toronto: So far, so good for DeDe, who faced off against Cleveland and Orlando in his first three games and lived to tell about it. He's a top-notch athlete above all else, but he's impressed with his ability to take everything as it comes and not force the issue. Expect him to hang around in this race if he picks up his defense and stays visible by racking up some SportsCenter face time with a few nasty dunks.

8. Ty Lawson, Denver: Debuted with 17 points and six assists against Northwest Division rival Utah, instantly endearing himself to Nuggets fans. He couldn't have found a better situation, playing for an esteemed member of the Carolina family behind one of the top mentors available today, Chauncey Billups.

9. James Harden, Oklahoma City: He didn't beat out Thabo Sefolosha for a starting spot, but will be counted on as a key contributor on the wing for the Thunder, who love his IQ and pro-ready frame. The reigning No. 3 pick already has an eight-assist game to his credit and will score more as his comfort level increases.
 
10. Chase Budinger, Houston: With Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady out, minutes and shots are readily available for the former national prep Volleyball Player of the Year. Coming off a career-high 17-point, five-rebound night on Nov. 2 at Utah, Budinger is another second-round sleeper (pick No. 44) making good early on. Given his versatility and skill set, the opportunity exists for him to hang around in this race so long as he's putting up numbers.

Watch list-worthy

Blake Griffin, L.A. Clipppers: Showing off his new suit collection may get the girlies lining up, but does nothing for his chances here. 

Hasheem Thabeet, Memphis: Blocked four shots in 12 minutes against Denver on Nov. 1, but has a large learning curve ahead. Given how good Marc Gasol has looked, the 7-foot-3 rookie has his work cut out for him in order to earn more playing time.

Jordan Hill, New York: Disgruntled Knicks fans are already muttering under their breaths about his inability to crack the rotation.

Jrue Holiday, Philadelphia: Not playing much yet, but the teenager has instinctive skills that can't be taught and a long frame that's going to make him a defensive nightmare for opposing point guards.

Jeff Teague, Atlanta: Can score in bunches, but the Hawks already have plenty of guards who specialize at putting the ball in the basket.

Gerald Henderson, Charlotte: Larry Brown is coaching him, so you can expect his minutes to fluctuate.

Taj Gibson, Chicago: Quickly became a Vinny Del Negro favorite during camp and preseason with his high motor, earning him a spot in the rotation ahead of more talented first-round pick James Johnson.

Jodie Meeks, Milwaukee: With Michael Redd out, the guard who could be starting his senior season at loaded Kentucky will have his first real opportunity to make his mark in the pros.

Tyler Hansbrough, Indiana: Sidelined since July with a shin injury, Hansbrough's debut could come as early as Friday's date against the Wizards. Based on what I saw of him in summer league play, he's one of those athletes who simply finds a way to get the job done without looking like he'd be able to.

David Andersen, Houston: Aussie import is seeing minutes behind Luis Scola, Carl Landry and Chuck Hayes, but doesn't seem to have too high a ceiling. Fundamentally-sound.

Roddy Beaubois, Dallas: Special athlete had inauspicious debut with three scoreless minutes in Friday's rout of the Lakers, but he's got the goods to contribute immediately if called upon.

Austin Daye, Detroit: Expected to be a key contributor off the bench, but played just one minute in his first week of action. The Pistons are looking for him or fellow first-year forward Jonas Jerebko to provide an immediate impact frontcourt boost.

DeMarre Carroll, Memphis: Hakim Warrick's departure and Darrell Arthur's injury means major minutes for Carroll, who will now be counted on as a glue guy who gets his hands dirty. 

Wayne Ellington, Minnesota: There are plenty of minutes available for smart rookie, but it remains to be seen how he responds to the day-to-day NBA grind.

Omri Casspi, Sacramento: The first Israeli to play in the NBA is tough as nails and unlikely to back down from anyone. That he was counted on in the clutch late in regulation and OT during Monday's win over Memphis tells you how highly Paul Westphal thinks of him.

Tony Mejia is publisher and senior writer of Pro Basketball News. He can be reached at mejia@probasketballnews.com.