Tom Van Arsdale

American basketball player who played 12 NBA seasons, known for his scoring ability and three All-Star selections alongside twin brother Dick Van Arsdale.

Thomas Arthur Van Arsdale was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1943, the identical twin brother of Dick Van Arsdale who also played in the NBA. Detroit Pistons selected him as a territorial draft pick in 1965. His 12-season career produced 15.3 points per game along with five All-Star appearances. He and his brother Dick Van Arsdale are one of the most celebrated twin pairings in sports history — they played in the same conference and regularly faced each other during his careers, with both achieving All-Star selections. He averaged a career-high 23.2 points per game for the Phoenix Suns in 1971-72. His consistency across multiple franchises and his selection to five All-Star games reflect sustained excellence across a full NBA career. The Van Arsdale brothers were known for his work ethic, basketball intelligence and the unusual dynamic of regularly competing against one another at the highest professional level. They later worked together in Phoenix community initiatives and basketball development programmes. Tom's consistency and professionalism across a dozen professional seasons represent the kind of career that the history books often undervalue in favour of more spectacular achievements.

Smooth shooting guard with good court vision and consistent scoring ability

Solid NBA veteran known for reliable scoring and professionalism

• All-Star 5x