A Legendary Basketball Twin's Journey and Legacy
Early Basketball Days and School Achievements
Tom and Dick Van Arsdale were born on February 22, 1943, in Indianapolis. They were identical twins and equally dominant basketball players. In 1961, as seniors at Manual High School, they shared the Indiana Mr. Basketball Award and the Trester Award for Mental Attitude. They reached the all-class state championship game that year but unfortunately lost to Kokomo in the finals. Their father, Raymond, taught math and coached cross country and track and field at Manual, while their mother, Hilda, was a stenographer in the school office. According to a February 1972 Sports Illustrated story, Dick was the valedictorian at Manual and Tom finished third in the class. These two brothers were not only talented on the basketball court but also excelled academically.They were big, fast, and strong. Scheib, a basketball and track teammate, said, "They would have been oh-my-God tight ends. Between their grades and their points scored, they were always within two or three points of each other." Their squabbles during games on the dirt court in their backyard could get physical, but they were the closest of friends and pushed each other to greater heights.
College Years at Indiana University
The Van Arsdales decided to go to Indiana University together, eschewing offers from Adolph Rupp at Kentucky. They had almost identical careers for the Hoosiers. Both averaged double-figure scoring all three years they were eligible to play (freshmen were not eligible in those days). Both were named All-Americans in 1965. Tom scored 1,252 career points and grabbed 723 rebounds. Dick had 1,240 points and 719 rebounds. On average, Tom scored 17.4 points and grabbed 10.0 rebounds per game, and Dick had 17.2 and 10.0. They led the Hoosiers to a 19-5 record in legendary coach Branch McCracken's final season.During their college years, they were inseparable and pushed each other to improve. Their bond was strong, and they supported each other through thick and thin.
The NBA Journey and Suns Legacy
In the NBA draft that followed, they were finally separated. Dick was taken in the second round with the No. 13 pick by the Knicks, and Tom was picked No. 14 by the Pistons. However, Dick paved his own way by playing a critical role in the birth of the Suns. He scored the first points in the team's history and averaged 21.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in the Suns' first season. The next year, he made the All-Star team again and helped the Suns reach the playoffs for the first time. In his eighth season with the team in 1975-76, the Suns reached the NBA Finals for the first time, losing to the Celtics in a thrilling series.Tom and Dick Van Arsdale reunited with the Suns in 1976-77 to play together for their final NBA season before retiring. After Tom played with five other NBA teams, Dick Van Arsdale later joined the Suns front office, becoming the team's general manager and vice president of player personnel. He served as interim coach in 1987 for the season's final 26 games when John MacLeod was fired, winning 14 of those games. Van Arsdale also served as a color commentator on the Suns TV and radio broadcasts alongside Al McCoy.
Later Life and Artistic Pursuits
Van Arsdale suffered a major stroke in 2005 and recovered physically but developed speech problems. He and Tom opened an art store together to sell their own works. Tom does oil painting, and Dick specialized in watercolors. They both contributed, with Tom working to minimize the areas where Dick struggled since the stroke.Carter, who has frequently visited them in Phoenix, said, "Tom pretty much was the voice for both of them. Tom did most of the talking." Their artistic endeavors added another dimension to their lives.
Dick Van Arsdale's impact on basketball and his life story are a testament to the power of determination and friendship. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of basketball players.