Moved by the respect displayed by his peers, Devin Booker stilled the excitement brewing inside knowing what might inevitably come next.

Despite sitting at eighth in voting by fans for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game after final results were released, Booker came in fourth for guards in the Western Conference in the votes submitted by the players.

“That was good news, something similar to last year,” Booker said last Friday afternoon before dropping a 35-point, 10-assist double-double later that night in a win over the San Antonio Spurs. “I don’t know what the player rank was last year, but I even spoke on that and said I’m happy that’s the situation. I earned respect from my peers, the guys that spend countless hours in the gym that we get to compete against. So that means a lot to me.”

What’s not so significant for Booker these days is actually making the NBA All-Star Game. While the vast majority of players around the league view earning a selection as key in defining their career legacies, Booker’s recent circumstances somewhat jade his perspective.

Responding diplomatically to the question of whether making the All-Star team enhances a player’s career legacy, Booker points to the game’s current format to explain his ambivalence.

“It’s not even East versus West really," Booker said. "So, we’ll see. It’s not my decision to determine anybody’s legacy. And I don’t think it determines anybody’s legacy because of the format now.”

DeMar DeRozan says the All-Star accolade is very important.

Many of Booker’s peers disagree, including his own coach, Monty Williams, who played nine seasons for five teams in the NBA and never was selected to play in the league’s annual midseason showcase.

“I never did it, but when you have that kind of talent it absolutely is important,” Williams told NBA.com. “You want to be known as one of the best players, and when you put up those kinds of numbers and help your team win games, I think that should be recognized. All the factors should be put into the equation. So, I think it is important.”

So does San Antonio Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan, a four-time All-Star, who has twice been named to the All-NBA team.

Lacing up a pair of pink sneakers from the Kobe Bryant Nike line in New Orleans ahead of the Spurs' win over the Pelicans in Zion Williamson’s electrifying debut, DeRozan squinted curiously when asked whether NBA All-Star appearances help to cement a player’s legacy.

“How many people have you asked this?” DeRozan asked. “Because I think it’s important. Anybody coming into the league, you want to be an All-Star. Obviously, after being there X amount of times, you get a different feel for it. But I think it’s important, you know what I mean? You want to check off everything down the list once you come into the league. I remember when I first was a part of the USA team. I felt like I had to be a part of this because not everybody gets this opportunity, and this goes on your resume forever.

“Same with All-Stars, same with championships, same with First-, Second-, and Third-Team All-NBA; all of those things. Not too many people get the opportunity to have that. Even the playoffs. You want to make it to the playoffs, then you want to make it out of the first round. Then you want to make it out of the second round. You want to know what it’s like to have a conference finals, and then ultimately win a championship. So, I think All-Stars are definitely important to your legacy.”

For some players, that sentiment changes over time.