Dick Van Arsdale, a three-time NBA All-Star and the first player to ever be a Phoenix Sun, has died at the age of 81, according to the team.

Van Arsdale was the first player selected by Phoenix in the team’s 1968 expansion draft.

“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 wrote on their account on X, formerly Twitter.

“Van Arsdale was the first selection in the expansion draft to build the Suns roster and scored the first points in team history. He was a cornerstone of the Suns organization.”

“He was a three-time All-Star selection, participated in the team’s first trip to the NBA Finals in 1976 and retired as the franchise’s leading scorer in 1977. Van Arsdale was popular throughout the Suns’ organization and fan base, and held several positions with the team, including broadcaster and front office manager, following his 12-year NBA career.

“Our thoughts are with his friends and family during this difficult time, including his twin brother and Suns teammate Tom.”

Dick Van Arsdale, a three-time NBA All-Star for the Phoenix Suns, has died at the age of 81

Van Arsdale was the first player selected by Phoenix in the team’s 1968 expansion draft

With Phoenix he reached the playoffs twice, including the 1976 NBA Finals (above) against Boston

Van Arsdale was a native of Indianapolis and played college basketball at Indiana University with his twin brother Tom.

The brothers were selected consecutively in the 1965 NBA Draft – with Dick being selected by the New York Knicks with the tenth overall pick and Tom being selected by the Detroit Pistons with the eleventh overall pick.

Dick Van Arsdale played for twelve seasons – first with the Knicks for three seasons before becoming the first player taken in the Suns’ expansion draft in 1968. He remained in Phoenix for the remainder of his playing career.

During that time, Phoenix made the playoffs only twice, but reached the NBA Finals in 1976. There they lost in six games to the Boston Celtics – with the fifth game of that series, a three-overtime thriller, considered one of the greatest basketball games of all time.

After retiring after the 1977 season, in which he played with his twin brother for the Suns, Van Arsdale remained associated with the Phoenix franchise.

He became the team’s general manager and senior vice president of player personnel and even served as interim head coach during the 1987 season following the firing of John MacLeod.

All told, Van Arsdale won three consecutive NBA All-Star appearances, was named to the All-Defensive Second Team in 1974 and the All-Rookie First Team in 1966. His No. 5 was also retired by the NBA Suns.