Dick Van Arsdale, the “Original Sun” who scored the franchise’s first points, has died at the age of 81 years old.
A second-round pick (10th overall) by the New York Knicks in 1965, he joined Phoenix via expansion draft for the Suns’ debut season in 1968-69. He made his first All-Star team that year and the next two seasons as well.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Suns legend Dick Van Arsdale, the Original Sun and a member of our Ring of Honor,” the Suns said in a statement Monday.
“Our thoughts are with his friends and family, including his twin brother and Suns teammate, Tom, during this difficult time.”
Van Arsdale, an Indiana native who stayed home to play for the Hoosiers in college alongside his twin brother Tom, played with the Suns until retirement after the 1976-77 season. That included the team’s first of three trips to the NBA Finals in 1976.
He again shared the court with Tom in that final 1976-77 season, which was also Tom’s last.
In nine years with the Suns, Dick Van Arsdale averaged 17.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
He is sixth on the franchise’s all-time scoring list. Van Arsdale’s 12,060 career points are behind Shawn Marion (12,134) in fifth and ahead of Amar’e Stoudemire (11,035) in seventh. They are the latest two Suns Ring of Honor Inductees.
Van Arsdale is in the top five in Phoenix franchise history in games played (685), minutes played (24,242) and field goal attempts (9,185).
Dick Van Arsdale remained close to Suns after his playing career
Van Arsdale remained embedded in the Phoenix community and with the Suns after his retirement. He acted as general manager, senior vice president of player personnel and even interim head coach (1986-87).
He finished that coaching season 14-12 after taking over for John MacLeod, another Suns Ring of Honor member.
Van Arsdale also took up a commentator gig alongside the Voice of the Suns, Al McCoy, who died in September.
Van Arsdale remained in Phoenix, as did Tom. After suffering a stroke in 2005, the recovery process led him to pick up art, and the brothers opened a studio near their homes in Scottsdale.
