There’s nothing Damian Lillard can do about the coaches’ vote that initially made him an All-Star snub.

Lillard doesn’t play the game to make the mid-season classic, even if he knows he deserves to be on the team. Don’t expect to see him go out and play with the intent of proving his All-Star worth in the second half of the season; he won’t put a vendetta in front of his team’s needs. He didn’t do it when he was left off of Team USA and he won’t start now. That is the reason the 24-year-old guard will hear his name called many times during his career. There’s a maturity, along with a top-tier game, that stops him from getting too high or low emotionally for an extended period of time. He understands that his success is attached to the team and anything spectacular that he does needs to be in the framework of the team’s plans.

It’s that type of perspective that has helped Lillard become more popular and respected after his initial snub. He handled the situation with the maturity of someone beyond his years. He won’t let the snub change his attitude, approach or appreciation of the event.

“I appreciate being here the same,” Lillard said. “If I felt like I had not earned the right to be here, I may feel otherwise. I feel like I’ve earned a spot on the team and I’m here because of that.”

The role of All-Star fits Lillard well. He looks the part, has the game and embraces the responsibilities of the weekend with a cool enthusiasm. He’s mastered the art of picking his spots, balancing the act of interacting with fans and teammates like a seasoned pro.

Much of his approach was born back in 2000 when the All-Star game was in Lillard’s hometown of Oakland. It was there that the star guard, then a 9-year-old kid, was able to identify what he wanted to do when he was older. Watching Vince Carter dazzle the basketball world with arguably the greatest dunk exhibition ever seen, Lillard soaked in every moment. The pros he looked up to were watching Carter’s aerial display from the sidelines in amazement, and the fans watched the All-Star Game in awe of Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan as they put on a show and shared MVP honors.

Lillard watched it all and made the decision: he wanted to be in their shoes and started working to give himself a chance.

“At that age, it helped me realize what I wanted,” Lillard said. “Seeing all those guys, being able to meet some and get a few autographs, it was something I’ll never forget. Being a part of that, seeing those guys up close and how much fun they were having, it was then I knew this is what I wanted to do.”

Along the way, he’s learned some of the tough realties of sports and life.

Things don’t always work out the way we hope and believe they will. The Team USA and initial All-Star snub were reminders of that for Lillard. It also served as motivation and a lesson in growth and improvement.

“I’ve learned to just keep working,” Lillard said. “Hard work pays off, but it doesn’t always mean you’re going to win. I’ve always depended on hard work and it’s worked out for me. This summer it didn’t work out. So I had to keep working and getting better and I’ve done that. And in the beginning I wasn’t going to be on the All-Star team, but things ended up working out.”

Lillard won’t blame the process, even in those rare moments when the emotions of a disappointment take over. He simply assesses the situation, looks in the mirror and goes about the business of working harder, making sure he leaves no doubt that he belongs among the elite - in conversation and accolades.