Dick Van Arsdale, a Phoenix Suns legend and three-time NBA All-Star, passed away on December 16, 2024, in Phoenix, Arizona at the age of 81. Heart and kidney failure were cited as the cause of his death.
The Phoenix Suns, in their official statement, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Van Arsdale, who was the first player picked in the Suns’ 1968 expansion draft and the scorer of the team’s first-ever points.
Van Arsdale, who stood at 6 feet and 5 inches and weighed 210 pounds in his playing days, was born on February 22, 1943 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He played basketball at Manual High School in Indianapolis and later at Indiana University, where he earned All-American honors in 1965 prior to his professional career.
In the 1965 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks used their second-round (13th overall pick) to select Van Arsdale. He made significant contributions during his three seasons with the Knicks, averaging 12.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game across 236 games and aiding the team in reaching the playoffs twice.
The trajectory of Van Arsdale’s career changed when he was chosen as the first pick in the 1968 expansion draft by the Phoenix Suns. He made an immediate impact, achieving All-Star status in his initial three seasons with the team and reaching a career-high average of 21.9 points per game during the 1970-71 season.
A significant highlight of Van Arsdale’s career was in 1976 when he played a crucial role in taking the Suns to their first NBA Finals, although they were defeated by the Boston Celtics. In the subsequent season, his identical twin brother, Tom Van Arsdale, also a three-time NBA All-Star, joined the Suns, enabling them to play their final NBA season together.
The Van Arsdale twins humorously capitalized on their identical appearances in a 1978 Miller Lite beer TV commercial.
Retiring from the Suns in 1977 as their all-time leading scorer, Van Arsdale’s career averages stood at 16.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game over his 12-year NBA career. Post-retirement, he continued his association with the Suns in various capacities such as broadcaster, interim head coach, general manager, and senior vice president of player personnel. He notably led the team to a 14-12 record as interim coach during the 1987 season, which included an exceptional run of 10 victories in 11 games.
Van Arsdale, who survived a stroke in 2005 that resulted in speech impairment, developed a passion for art in his later years. He worked alongside his brother Tom, who had embraced oil painting. The brothers opened an art studio together in 2018. According to Jon McGlocklin, a former teammate from Indiana University, Van Arsdale’s health had been deteriorating over the past year.
Van Arsdale is survived by his wife Barbara Fenton, whom he married in 1965, his son Jason, his daughter Jill, and four grandchildren. He also leaves behind his brother, Tom.