One of the most salient arguments against hiring Larry Brown to take over the Knicks was that he was a poor fit for the roster. Brown was known to strongly favor veterans, but the Knicks’ roster skewed heavily toward youth – nine players on the team he inherited, three of whom are rookies, are 25 or younger – and was thought to be a number of years from serious playoff contention. But Brown has seemingly changed his tune since arriving at Madison Square Garden. Through the season’s first three weeks, he has diligently played the Knicks’ youngsters, and they are rewarding his faith.

This will shock fans in Detroit who saw heralded rookies like Darko Milicic and Carlos Delfino sit behind mediocre veterans like Elden Campbell and Lindsay Hunter. Ditto for Pacer fans, who watched guards Jalen Rose and Travis Best lose minutes to a late prime edition of Mark Jackson 10 years ago.

Of course, for all the things folks say about Brown – and given that New York is his eighth NBA coaching stop in a 30-year career, they say a lot – his intelligence is rarely doubted. It doesn’t require an abundance of sense to favor Channing Frye over Maurice Taylor, Eddy Curry over Jerome James, or Nate Robinson over Penny Hardaway. But what is surprising is how much favor each rookie has received at this early stage of the season. Brown’s rotations are not yet set (he used 12 players in the first quarter in Denver on Friday night), but a second unit is gelling, and it features Frye, Robinson, and fellow rookie David Lee at its core. The trio is combining for an average of 46.6 minutes per game thus far.

One could argue that this alignment, while encouraging, is, in fact, this isn’t enough; the rookies should see even more action. Frye, who, as some observers are starting to note, should be starting ahead of Antonio Davis, often looked lost on the court during the preseason. But the Arizona product has quickly figured out his role in Brown’s offensive schemes and has to be regarded with Hornet guard Chris Paul as a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.

Frye’s Player Efficiency Rating (John Hollinger’s metric that measures production on a per-minute basis) of 22.8 leads the team, and he’ averaging 13.2 points and 5.7 boards in only 21 minutes a game. Not a traditional banger under the rim, he has shown a soft touch on the mid-range jumper and an ability to find to his favored spots on the floor, usually at the elbow or along the left baseline, in Brown’s offensive design.

Frye is far more productive than Davis, whose PER of 7.6 may soon land him on the pine watching his younger teammate. In the final two games of last week’s western road trip, Brown gave Frye 29 and 33 minutes – starters’ minutes – without actually having him on the court for the opening tip. In Brown’s first home win as Knicks coach on Sunday, Frye scored 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting in 24 minutes against the Blazers.

Also making the most of his first impression is Lee, whose PER of 18.2 is second on the team and whose rebounding – 7.2 in 14.7 minutes per game – is a big reason for the Knicks’ improved defense. You read that right: The 6-foot-9-inch forward out of Florida is averaging a Rodmanian 19.6 boards per 40 minutes. With Lee on the floor, opponents don’t get many second shots, which leads to better defensive numbers and more fast break opportunities. Last season, the Knicks finished 26th in Defensive Efficiency, allowing 106.2 points per 100 possessions; this season they’re fourth, giving up only 95.4.

Unfortunately, Lee’s shooting thus far also resembles the Worm’s – he’s hitting 50% from the floor, which is less impressive than it would seem when you consider that he’s often standing under rim with the ball. Lee has appeared tentative on put-backs, as if fearful of a blocked shot, a habit that has made him too unselfish at times. If he can develop that fearlessness in the paint and force defenders to respect him, it will also create more space for the shooters on the perimeter. Many NBA big men have developed their offensive games in the pros. If Lee can do the same, the Knicks will have another cornerstone for the future in place.

Nate Robinson’s development has been a tad slower than his fellow rookies. He’s something of a combo guard-a shooting guard in a point guard body– and is still working to establish his place in the offense. His 5.5 points in 11.9 minutes is encouraging; his 35% shooting rate less so. Robinson has excelled on defense, messing up opponents’ perimeter passing schemes, harassing ball handlers, and deflecting entry passes. Generously listed at 5-foot-9, Robinson compensates in quickness and instincts for what he lacks in size. His plus/minus numbers atwww.82games.comshow that the Knicks allow 15.4 fewer points per 48 minutes with Robinson on the floor than with him on the bench.

Perhaps that’s why he’s seen an increase in playing time, but it’s foolish to think that he can become Stephon Marbury’s replacement at point guard this season should Stephon move to the two guard. Robinson wasn’t the primary playmaker on his college team, so he will have to learn the position.

Luckily for Brown, the rookies aren’t the only ones showing surprising development. Center Eddy Curry, for one, has to be giving Bulls fans fits with his sudden tenacity on the glass. One of the many complaints they lobbed at him during his four years in the Windy City was his inability to grab more than five rebounds a game – an atrocious figure for a 6-foot-11-inch, 285-pound center. In his first month with the Knicks, he’s crashing the boards, averaging 11.2 rebounds per 40 minutes. Brown’s magic dust has yet to expand the game of second-year forward Trevor Ariza, but he has received more floor time this year than last year. The lanky forward is already a good defender, so Brown may see another Tayshaun Prince in the making and give him a lot of time to develop.

The turning over of this new leaf on Brown’s part is crucial to the Knicks’ long-term success. Players like James, Taylor, and Davis are not the future of the franchise. Frye, Lee, Robinson, Ariza, and Curry – along with Marbury and veteran guard Jamal Crawford – are. Despite the team’s 3-7 start, Knick fans have to be encouraged. Thanks to the strong play of its youngest players and the Brown’s increasing confidence in them, the Knicks – for what feels like the first time in a decade – have a promising future ahead.

mjohnson@nysun.com