Dick Van Arsdale

Dick Van Arsdale was not only the first player selected by the Phoenix Suns in the 1968 expansion draft — he was the first to play in a Suns game, the first to score in the franchise's history, and the first to represent what Phoenix basketball would mean to a new generation of fans in the desert.

He and twin brother Tom Van Arsdale are one of the rare sets of identical twins to both have sustained NBA careers, with Tom playing for multiple franchises while Dick spent most of his career as the cornerstone of the Suns.

Van Arsdale made the All-Star team in three different seasons as a Sun at a time when the franchise was still establishing itself — proof that he was not just an expansion player but a legitimate NBA-quality star.

After his playing career, Van Arsdale remained closely connected to the Phoenix Suns organization, becoming one of the franchise's most beloved ambassadors and a regular presence at historical celebrations of the team's heritage.