LeBron returns for Lakers after 13-game NBA absence
James was available for the Lakers' home game against the Chicago Bulls after testing his foot, the club saying the 38-year-old forward would come off the bench in the contest.
The only other time James has been a reserve in his 20-year NBA career was in 2007 when he played for Cleveland.
The Lakers went 8-5 without James to reach 37-37 and stand eighth in the Western Conference with the same record as number seven Minnesota and number nine New Orleans in the fight for play-in post-season positions.
James, who last played on February 26, has missed 27 games this season due to injury, matching the most of any campaign in his career.
James, who last month became the NBA's all-time scoring leader, leads the Lakers with an average of 29.5 points a game this season.