Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo is displaying his leadership skills in a manner the team didn't quite expect.

He started early in the summer with the rookies and guys who wouldn't even make the team. Those instances included asking to attend summer league to work with the team's rookies.

He took the opportunity to travel with the team to Milwaukee when he wasn't scheduled to play and the other veterans took the night off.

He passed the balls to practicing rookies and watched game film afterwards with the coach.

If that wasn't enough Rondo invited the entire team to his home for dinner, simply to bond with them, per Sam Smith's article for NBA.com..

“That was big, obviously appreciative of the support from his new team. I appreciated that everyone came. That’s a great sign of respect and most everybody was on time, even NBA on time. I just wanted to give guys…the camaraderie, get together and understand the people at dinner are the people who do everything. We all have to get on one page; we all want the best for the next guy.”

It's certainly ironic that the guy known for fighting coaches and being dismissed from his team, is the same guy bringing everyone together.

The Bulls may not be in the running to win the NBA title, but they can enjoy spending time together playing and creating a culture that everyone envies.

Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle kicked Rondo off of the team for insubordination, but was the man who recommended him to coach Fred Hoiberg.

“It’s been really good. I talked to several coaches that had Rondo, who have been around him, including Rick Carlisle, who I played for in Indiana; he was an assistant under Larry Bird. He actually was the first guy who came up and talked to me after the trade happened and he said it’s going to be great. He said, ‘I think you guys have the perfect personalities for each other.’ From the minute we signed him and he came to Chicago, I knew he had a chance to be successful.”

Perhaps Rondo recognized the need for unity. He did, after all, come from a Sacramento Kings team that was the epitome of dysfunction and division.After a disastrous year, the Bulls needed someone to pull things together, and Rondo welcomed the opportunity.

So how did that dinner turn out?

“No better way to bond than food.”

“It also was to show appreciation to the staff. The staff here works extremely hard. When I’m on the table they are always willing to help and it’s not only me; there are five other guys in there getting treatment as well.”

“We are one organization, one family and I appreciate how hard guys work in this organization and it’s one token of that appreciation.”

It's going to take more than just breaking bread to bring, and keep, everyone together during the ups and downs of the season, but it's a great start.