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Dick Van Arsdale, a beloved former Phoenix Suns player and three-time All-Star, passed away at the age of 81. He was the first player ever selected by the franchise in the 1968 expansion draft, leaving a lasting impact on the team and the basketball community. Van Arsdale will always be remembered for his contributions to the sport and his time with the Suns.

The Suns announced Van Arsdale's death in a statement on Monday and a team spokesman confirmed that the franchise had received the news from his family. A cause of death wasn't disclosed.

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

The 6-foot-5 Van Arsdale played his first three NBA seasons with the New York Knicks before being selected by the Suns with their first pick in the 1968 expansion draft. He an All-Star during his first three seasons in the desert, averaging a career-high 21.9 points during the 1970-71 season.

Van Arsdale was part of the franchise's 1976 team that advanced to the NBA Finals before losing to the Boston Celtics and retired in 1977 as the franchise's all-time scoring leader. His is survived by twin brother, Tom Van Arsdale, who was also a three-time NBA All-Star and played with his brother in Phoenix during the 1976-77 season.

After his playing days, Dick Van Arsdale held several positions with the franchise, including broadcaster and front-office executive.