Brown gets the start at center in opener

Despite two off-season operations and a delayed start in training camp, Kwame Brown will be the starting center for the Lakers in their season opener tonightagainst Houston.

He was told about it by reporters a few minutes after they were tipped off by Coach Phil Jackson. “You found out before me,” Brown said.

It had been one of the bigger training-camp questions -- other than the obvious ones about Kobe Bryant -- but Brown won out against Andrew Bynum and Chris Mihm. Now if only he can keep from falling apart.

Brown had reconstructive surgery on his left ankle in May and had another procedure in June to remove a bone spur, a bursa sac and scar tissue from his right shoulder. His shoulder is fine, but his ankle is still sensitive.

“My ankle, as long as I can control it and jump off of two feet, I’ll be OK. But as soon as I start trying to jump off one leg . . . it’s a wrap,” he said.

Brown doesn’t feel the ankle has regained the strength it had before he injured it last December. But for now, he’s the starter.

“It’s nice they have that much confidence in me,” he said.

Brown, 25, is in the last year of a contract that pays him $9.1 million this season. He averaged 8.4 points and six rebounds in 41 games last season.

His first assignment won’t be easy: Yao Ming. Ming has seven inches and 40 pounds on Brown, although Brown has developed a reputation as a decent defender in the post.

“He’s had very good success against [Yao], and he’s a physical guy who can hold him out,” Jackson said.

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Forward Lamar Odom could be out two more weeks because of soreness in his left shoulder. “I have to wait until my body allows me to feel good,” he said. “I’m not sure. Maybe another week or two.” . . . Undrafted rookie guard Coby Karl, a two-time cancer survivor and the son of Denver Nuggets Coach George Karl, was not cut by the Lakers and will officially occupy the 15th and final roster spot. “It’s been a long road,” he said. . . . As expected, the Lakers exercised a fourth-year option on Bynum and a third-year option on Jordan Farmar, meaning both players will be under contract through next season. . . . Forward Vladimir Radmanovic did not practice Monday because of a sore throat.

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mike.bresnahan@latimes.com