Why is it of such fascination that people who can put a ball in a hoop can also read philosophy and novels?
Because it's unusual, and don't pretend you don't know this. It's already reasonably uncommon for any American to read books, and it's even rarer among Americans in their 20s and 30s, also known as the ages of NBA players. Classic novels and philosophy? Forget about it.
So these mostly foreign players stand out because they read.