‘Original Sun’ Dick Van Arsdale dies at 81

Just months after the death of Phoenix Suns icon Al McCoy, legendary player Dick Van Arsdale has died, according to a team statement. Known as the “Original Sun” after he was Phoenix’s top pick in the 1968 expansion draft, Van Arsdale was 81.

Arsdale played for the Suns for nine seasons, from 1968 through 1977, and averaged 17.6 points per game. He made the All-Star team in each of his first three seasons with Phoenix and retired atop many of the club’s statistical leaderboards. He still appears on many of them nearly 50 years later, ranking third in minutes played, fourth in games played, sixth in points scored and second in free throws made.

After his retirement, Van Arsdale worked in the Suns’ front office and later served as a TV and radio commentator for team broadcasts. He also served as interim head coach for a stretch in 1987.

The Suns retired Van Arsdale’s No. 5 jersey after he retired in 1977. When the team’s Ring of Honor opened in 1999, Van Arsdale was one of its first inductees.

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

In a statement, the Suns said, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Suns legend Dick Van Arsdale” and that the team’s “thoughts are with his friends and family,” including his twin brother, Tom Van Arsdale, who played alongside Dick with the Suns in the 1976-77 season.

The team’s statement did not specify what day Van Arsdale died or the cause of his death.