Dick Van Arsdale and his identical twin confused their opponents and the audience for a long time. Both shared a deep bond, which only deepened when they continued to play together in school and then in the pro league. The twins’ former teammates recalled how they often pranked the teachers and coaches. Thanks to their parents, both excelled in academics as well as sports. The two also worked together after retirement.

Staying close for many years, Dick parted ways with his twin and bid goodbye to the world on December 16, 2024. Both brothers spent their last years in the NBA playing for the Phoenix Suns, but then why is the late legend called the “Original Sun”?

Dick was the first player selected by the franchise. One of the major league sports teams based in Phoenix, the Suns, was formed in 1968. Van Arsdale was selected in the expansion draft. Before that, he played for the Knicks. He was selected as the 10th overall pick in the second round in 1965. Van Arsdale’s talents even earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Team.

But Van Arsdale shined a little brighter when he joined the Phoenix Suns. Alvan Adams and Paul Westphal were the two other players who joined the team. During his initial 3 years with the Suns, he was named an All-Star three times and went on to spend the rest of his NBA career with the Suns. The Indianapolis native was one of the best free throw shooters in the franchise, as well as the league, with an 80% shooting rate for the Suns.

Averaging 17.6 points per game, the NBA selected Dick for the All-Defensive Second Team. He led the team to its first NBA Finals appearance. Following this, his brother, Tom Van Arsdale, who had played for three other teams, also joined the Suns ahead of their retirement in 1977.

It was always tough to tell who was who. 

As their former basketball and track teammate recalled, the only difference was their noses. While Tom’s resembled their mother’s, Dick’s looked more like their father’s.

Dick Van Arsdale retired as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. The Phoenix Suns also retired the jersey number 5 worn by Van Arsdale to honor his contribution to the team. He had 15079 NBA career points and 3,807 rebounds. But the end of Van Arsdale’s playing career wasn’t the end of his relationship with the franchise. 

“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 official X page of the Phoenix Suns said. Following his retirement, he took on the role of general manager for the Suns and senior vice president of player personnel. 

But his role wasn’t limited to just one. The man took on several roles for the franchise. He was also the television and radio color commentator for the team, alongside Al McCoy, and head coach for 26 games. But the twins were also fond of football.

Dick Van Arsdale’s close bond with his twin … and football

As ninth graders, both were passionate about football and were good at it as well. The twins were tight ends on their football team and also part of the track team. The credit goes to their parents, who constantly stressed the importance of both education and sports in their children’s lives.

Their father, Raymond, taught math and also coached track and field at Emmerich Manual High School, where the twins studied. Their mother, Hilda, was a stenographer in the school office. As per a 1972 SI article, the 3x NBA All-Star was a valedictorian, while his twin brother ranked third in the class.

“They were Oh-My-God basketball players. My senior year we were playing and Tom Van Arsdale scored 38 points on a Friday night and broke the school record,” the twins’ Manual High School coach Dave Schieb said.

Not just in pranks and academics, the two brothers were together in their accomplishments as well. Back in 1961, the twins were awarded the Indiana Mr. Basketball award and the Trester Award for Mental Attitude.

“They were pretty much inseparable. Just down to Earth good guys. Over the years I could tell you, from the guys I knew in high school to the guys I know now, they have changed very little. They’re just down-to-Earth good guys,” Leon Carter, their basketball and track teammate, said. 

The Phoenix Suns legend also won a gold medal in 1965 as a USA team member at the Summer Universiade. Despite several offers, the twins chose Indiana University. Much later, in 1988, he was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. The two brothers’ lockers are preserved and displayed in a case in the lobby of the Emmerich Manual High School gymnasium. They also had an art store where they sold their own work.

In 2005, Dick survived a stroke and recovered well, but he had speech problems. As shared by his twin, the Suns’ legend passed away in Arizona due to kidney failure. 

Dick Van Arsdale’s legacy, as both the “Original Sun” and a beloved figure in basketball, lives on through his contributions to the game, his bond with his twin, and the lasting impact he left on the Phoenix Suns franchise and beyond.