Dick Van Arsdale, nicknamed the “Original Sun,” has died at 81. He was the first player in the history of the Phoenix Suns to score points for the team and was a member of the Suns' first trip to the NBA Finals in 1976.
Renowned by the Phoenix Suns as a cornerstone of the organization, he earned three All-Star selections and retired as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer in 1977.
He was also a first selection in the expansion draft to build the Suns roster in 1968. He played nine seasons with the Suns throughout his 12-year NBA career.
Serving in several positions throughout his time on the team, including broadcaster, he had a personal high of 46 points in one game against Seattle in 1975.
Longtime team executive Jerry Colangelo spoke about the team’s first expansion pick in a Suns-YouTube-channel video remembering the Suns inaugural season.
“Dick Van Arsdale had a terrific career. (He) was everything we said we wanted him to be, or thought he would be,” Colangelo said.
Former teammate Jim Fox said in the video that Van Arsdale had the perfect personality for playing the role of the “Original Sun.”
“He was the face of the franchise for years and years. Clean cut, all-American, good looking guy who was a heck of a competitor and a heck of a player,” Fox said.
Tom Ambrose started working with Van Arsdale about 50 years ago, when Ambrose was public relations director for the Suns, which were then a young franchise looking to plant roots.
Being successful meant persuading star players to do school appearances, skills clinics and autograph signings.
Ambrose says he could depend on Van Arsdale to get involved.
“So personally I tip my hat to what a great teammate he was. And how well he saw the importance of being part of the community as well and responding to the fans,” Ambrose said.
Ambrose called Van Arsdale the rock upon which the Suns were built.
Van Arsdale scored the first points in team history and was the Suns’ all-time leading scorer when he retired as a player.
Van Arsdale is a member of the Suns Ring of Honor and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
