Van Arsdale played college basketball for the Indiana Hoosiers, along with his identical twin brother, Tom.

[6] In 1963–64, he was named to the All-Big Ten team after averaging 22.3 points and 12.4 rebounds per game in his second year with the Hoosiers.

[11] Van Arsdale played in the NBA for twelve seasons; three with the Knicks and the remainder with the Phoenix Suns, their first selection in the 1968 expansion draft.

[6][12][13] Van Arsdale was a three-time All-Star (1969–1971) and a NBA All-Defensive Second Team selection (1974),[1] and was consistently one of the better free throw shooters in the league, averaging 79% over his entire career, and near or over 80% from 1969–1977.

[1][15] Van Arsdale later became the Suns' general manager and senior vice president of player personnel.

[14][16] Following the firing of John MacLeod in February 1987, he was the interim head coach for that season's final 26 games.

[19] The original lockers of both Tom and Dick remain in the display case in the lobby of the Emmerich Manual High School gymnasium.