Offensive Game
Consistent and reliable scorer who averaged 15-21 PPG in his best Phoenix seasons. Strong midrange game and ability to get to the free throw line made him a consistent offensive presence.
Career Journey
New York Knicks
1965-1968
Dick Van Arsdale earned a nickname no teammate could ever take from him: the Original Sun, the very first player Phoenix selected in the 1968 expansion draft. He gave the young franchise an identity — a hard-nosed two-way guard who made three straight All-Star teams and set the tone for a fan base that had little else to hold onto yet. His story carried a rare bit of poetry, too: he and twin brother Tom, mirror-image All-Stars their whole lives, finally shared an NBA backcourt in Phoenix during the 1976-77 season before both retired. Beyond the stats, he stayed woven into Suns basketball for decades as a broadcaster and executive. He passed away in December 2024 at 81, remembered less for any single number than for being the foundation Phoenix was built on.
Offensive Game
Consistent and reliable scorer who averaged 15-21 PPG in his best Phoenix seasons. Strong midrange game and ability to get to the free throw line made him a consistent offensive presence.
Defensive Game
Hard-nosed, physical defender who competed on every possession. Used his strength and basketball IQ effectively at the defensive end. One of the more reliable perimeter defenders of his era.
All articles
Dick Van Arsdale was the very first Phoenix Sun — selected in the 1968 expansion draft that brought the franchise to life. His #5 honors the player who gave the organization its identity.
Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
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Phoenix Suns
1968-1977
The 'Original Sun'
The first player Phoenix selected in the 1968 expansion draft, becoming the founding face of the franchise.
3x NBA All-Star
Made three consecutive All-Star teams as a rugged two-way guard, mirroring the success of twin brother Tom.
No. 5 retired by Phoenix
The Suns retired his jersey; he remained tied to the team for decades as a broadcaster and executive.
Intangibles
Smart, professional player who understood his role, executed consistently, and provided the veteran leadership that an expansion franchise desperately needed in its formative years.
Personal Life & Family
Status
Married
Parents & Siblings
Off the Court
Connection to Phoenix community through decades of team ambassador work
Youth basketball programs in the Arizona area
Did You Know?
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.
Career Honors
3x NBA All-Star (1970, 1972, 1973)
#5 Retired by Phoenix Suns
First player in Phoenix Suns franchise history
Official Jerseys
130.00
Check Price on NBA Store
113.00
Check Price on NBA Store113.00
Check Price on NBA Store
93.00
Check Price on NBA Store
108.99
Check Price on NBA Store79.99
Check Price on NBA Store
93.00
Check Price on NBA Store99.99
Check Price on NBA StorePhoenix Suns · Official
105.00
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