Dick Van Arsdale, a three-time All-Star who became the first Phoenix Suns player after being selected by the franchise in the 1968 expansion draft, died of heart and kidney failure on Monday at the age of 81.
Dick Van Arsdale played 12 seasons in the NBA: first three with the New York Knicks, next nine with the Phoenix Suns
The Suns announced Van Arsdale’s death in a statement and a team spokesman confirmed the franchise had received the news from his family. The Indianapolis native began his pro career as a forward and switched to guard.
Nicknamed “the Original Sun,” Van Arsdale played 12 seasons (1965-77) in the NBA and was an All-Star during his first three campaigns with Phoenix, averaging a career-high 21.9 points during the 1970-71 season.
The 6-foot-5 Van Arsdale played his first three NBA seasons (1965-68) with the New York Knicks before being selected by the Suns with their first pick in the 1968 expansion draft.
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 first selection in the expansion draft to build the Suns roster and the scorer of the first points in team history, Van Arsdale was a cornerstone of… pic.twitter.com/ujpVhLrsxK
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) December 16, 2024
Suns general manager Jerry Colangelo selected Van Arsdale first overall, and he went on to score the franchise’s first points. He was also named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team with Phoenix in 1974.
“We couldn’t find a better player on or off the floor to build our team,” Colangelo told The Arizona Republic in 1970. “If I could field five Vans, what I’d lack in height and rebounding, I’d offset with fight and desire.”
In the Suns’ 107-102 win over the Seattle SuperSonics on Feb. 5, 1975, he recorded a career-high 46 points on 20-of-32 (62.5%) shooting from the floor and 6-of-7 (85.7%) at the free throw line.
Van Arsdale retired in 1977 as the Suns’ all-time scoring leader then with 12,060 points
In 921 career NBA regular-season games (198 starts), Van Arsdale averaged 16.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 34.5 minutes per contest while shooting 46.4% from the field and 79% at the free throw line.
With the Knicks, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1966 after averaging 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 29 minutes in 79 games (69 starts). He also shot 42.8% from the field and 71.5% at the foul line.
Van Arsdale was also part of the Suns’ 1976 team that reached the NBA Finals before losing to the Boston Celtics. He retired in 1977 as the franchise’s all-time scoring leader then with 12,060 points.
The Suns retired his No. 5 jersey after he announced his retirement.
Van Arsdale is survived by twin brother, Tom Van Arsdale, who was also a three-time NBA All-Star and played with his brother in Phoenix during the 1976-77 season.
After his playing days, Dick Van Arsdale held several positions with the franchise, including broadcaster and front-office executive. He served as interim coach during the 1986-87 season as well.
