Usually human lives are a continuous process of self-selecting our social circle to include those most similar to us in most ways. This is unusual because the two friends were so different, but still found common ground. Celebrities become g friends with non celebrities is also rare because there is always the sense that the ordinary person wants fame or money by association from the friendship, which was even true in this case to some extent (Wang proudly showing a slide show of photos with Barkley).
I think this tells the story of the culture of celebrity in the United States as much as a private story between these two people.
It is also "traditional" celebrity interaction. Where the celebrity achieved status from professional skill building and achievement and largely unknowable through social media. So to know this person or have photos with them is a more scarce and unusual thing.
Wheras new celebrity status can be achieved through social media with no form of measurable achievement based on traditional skill building.
What's interesting about celebrity now is how many more people can be known and what skills can make you be known. Like, being beautiful and able to do finger dances on tiktok.
They have but their image had to be channeled through traditional distribution channels which created a narrow funnel for who and how many gained noteriety.
