A former star of the IU basketball program has died.

The Phoenix Suns reported Monday that Indiana native and former Hoosier Dick Van Arsdale has died at the age of 81.

Along with his twin brother Tom, Dick played basketball at IU from 1963 to 1965 under head coach Branch McCracken. He was the team’s most valuable player along with Tom in 1964 and 1965.

Dick was All-Big Ten and All American in 1965. He was also an Academic All-American in 1964 and 1965. He finished his IU career with 1,240 points and 719 rebounds.

He went on to a successful career in the NBA and was a three-time member of the NBA All-Star team.

He was selected by the New York Knicks in the second round (10th overall) in 1965 and moved to Phoenix via expansion draft for the Suns’ debut season in 1968-69. He made his first All-Star team that year and the next two seasons.

Dick is considered the “Original Sun” in Phoenix and scored the franchise’s first points.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Suns legend Dick Van Arsdale, the original Sun and member of our Ring of Honor,” the Suns said in a statement Monday.

He played a total of 12 seasons in the NBA, three with the Knicks and nine with the Suns. In his professional career, he averaged 16.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

Dick remained part of the Suns franchise even after his retirement. He served as general manager, senior vice president of player personnel and interim head coach (1986–87).

After basketball, Dick stayed in Phoenix, as did Tom. After a stroke in 2005, Dick devoted himself to art and the brothers opened a studio near their Scottsdale homes.

The identical Van Arsdale twins were born in Indianapolis in 1943. They played at Manual HS in Indianapolis before heading to Bloomington. As seniors in 1961, they jointly received the Indiana Mr. Basketball Award and the Trester Award for Mental Attitude.

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