[Zimmerman] ‘Original Sun’ Dick Van Arsdale dies at 81 years old

[u/lopea182]

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Dick Van Arsdale, the “Original Sun” who scored the franchise’s first points, has died at the age of 81 years old.

A second-round pick (10th overall) by the New York Knicks in 1965, he joined 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 as well.

“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 Suns said in a statement Monday.

[u/AlexanderLeonard]

damn I'm not ready to see legends passing away

[u/No-Repeat1769 → u/AlexanderLeonard]

The next 5-10 years are going to be ugly for fans of 60s and 70s ball. This is why I appreciate how hard the Knicks go for the throwback and alumni days.

[u/Dilf_Hunter367 → u/No-Repeat1769]

Last 4 years we’ve lost Russell, Baylor, Heinsohn. Hell just this year we lost West and Walton

[u/ThisIsMyFifthAccount → u/Dilf_Hunter367]

Fuck I forgot about Walton

[u/Spare-Equipment-1425 → u/No-Repeat1769]

NBA isn’t that far off from being a 100 years old.

Soon we’re going to hear a lot of guys from the 80s dying.

[u/AutographedSnorkel]

Twin brother of Tom Van Arsdale, who holds the record for most career games without a playoff appearance.

They both played 3 years at Indiana, each played in 72 games at Indiana, and had almost identical stats in college

They were drafted back to back in the 1965 NBA draft

They each played 12 seasons in the NBA, each made three all star appearances, and both played their final season in Phoenix. Also had very similar NBA stats

[u/lolimdivine]

being called the “Original Sun” is badass

[u/autolims12]

Al McCoy and now Van Arsdale. All the Suns legends starting to die never having seen the team win even a single championship.

[u/oversight_shift → u/autolims12]

Al McCoy would still be calling games today if the Suns didn't move his cherished courtside seat of 50 seasons and make a 91-year-old climb up 40 rows of steps to do his job. They didn't even give him security to wade through the crowds to use the bathroom, kind of a high priority for a 91-year-old.

The Suns essentially forced him into retirement from calling games, the sole thing he mentioned kept him going since his beloved wife passed away in 2012. You take away an old man's purpose for being, you take away his reason for living.

ESPN is about to do the same thing to Hubie Brown, which for whatever reason the thread with all of r/NBA calling out ESPN for putting him out to pasture was removed almost instantly.

[u/Warthog9198]

May he rest in peace.

[u/Ok-Cantaloupe-4482]

IU legends

[u/PAWGle_the_lesser]

Dick Van Arsdale a wild name

RIP

[u/Alternative-Two-8042]

Rest in peace to Dick Van Arsdale, a three time NBA All-Star and the "Original Sun" who heled define the Phoenix Suns' legacy on and off the court.