Dick Van Arsdale
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| Player information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Richard Albert Van Arsdale | |
| Nickname | The Original Sun, Flying Dutchman | |
| birthday | February 22, 1943 | |
| place of birth | Indianapolis , United States | |
| size | 198 cm | |
| position |
Shooting Guard / Small Forward |
|
| college | Indiana | |
| NBA draft | 1965 , 10th Pick, New York Knicks | |
| Clubs as active | ||
1965–1968 New York Knicks 1968–1977 Phoenix Suns
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Richard Albert Van Arsdale (born February 22, 1943 in Indianapolis , Indiana ) is a former basketball player in the North American professional league NBA . He is currently an official at his former club, the Phoenix Suns .
Career
Dick Van Arsdale was drafted in tenth place by the New York Knicks in the second draft round in 1965 . After his first year as a professional, he was appointed to the NBA All-Rookie Team for his playful performance . The first three years of his career he ran for the New York Knicks, before he was then selected in 1968 by the newly formed team of the Phoenix Suns in the expansion draft . He then stayed in Phoenix for the last 9 years of his active basketball career. Dick Van Arsdale was the first player the Phoenix Suns ever signed, so he's still known as "The Original Sun" today. Van Arsdale also scored the first basket for the then new team from Phoenix. Over the course of his 12 years as a professional basketball player, Dick Van Arsdale averaged 16.4 points per game. In the 1976/77 season he played with his twin brother Tom Van Arsdale for the Suns. After the 1976/77 season he resigned from active sports. In the following season, his jersey with the number 5 was immortalized under the hall ceiling. The number 5 has not been awarded by the Phoenix Suns since then. Dick Van Arsdale is also one of twelve members of the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor.
In the 1986/87 season, Dick Van Arsdale took over his former club as coach for the last 26 games of the season. He finished his excursion as a coach with a record of 14 wins and 12 losses.
Today Dick Van Arsdale works for the Phoenix Suns as senior vice president of player personnel.
Awards
- three-time NBA All-Star (1969, 1970, 1971)
- All-Defense Second Team 1974
Web links
- Brief biography
- Member of the Phoenix Suns Ring of Honor
- Dick Van Arsdale - player profile on basketball-reference.com
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Van Arsdale, Dick |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Van Arsdale, Richard Albert |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American basketball player |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 22, 1943 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Indianapolis , Indiana |