Dick Van Arsdale was a three-time NBA All-Star with the Phoenix Suns who was drafted alongside his identical twin brother, Tom.
- Died: December 16, 2024 (Who else died on December 16?)
- Details of death: Died in Phoenix of kidney failure at the age of 81.
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Dick Van Arsdale’s legacy
Born and raised in Indianapolis, Van Arsdale probably would have been a notable figure in state sports even if he hadn’t been drafted into the NBA. After being stars in high school, he and his twin brother, Tom, shrugged off overtures from Kentucky’s Hall of Fame basketball coach Adolph Rupp, and instead decided to play for their home school of Indiana University. Van Arsdale became an All-American player, averaged a double-double per game with the Hoosiers, and in 1963-64 was named to the All-Big Ten team. He is now in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
Even before that, he and his brother were stars at Emmerich Manual High School. They shared in the Indiana Mr. Basketball Award in 1961 and reached the all-class state championships that year, though they did not win.
In 1965, Van Arsdale was drafted by the New York Knicks. His brother joined the Detroit Pistons, and both got named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. The two became the first pair of identical twins drafted into the NBA. After three years with the Knicks, Van Arsdale went to the Phoenix Suns for their inaugural season. There, he became a three-time All-Star, selected from 1969 to 1971, putting up over 15,000 points during his career, and eventually having his jersey retired. He had a chance to play alongside his brother in the NBA, too, when Tom joined the Suns in the 1976-77 season.
Van Arsdale stuck with the Suns after his retirement in 1977. Called “the original Sun,” he became vice president of player development, served a short stint as head coach in 1987, and did color commentary for radio and television. He and his twin also starred in a Miller Lite commercial in 1978.
Tributes to Dick Van Arsdale
Full obituary: Indianapolis Star
