Chris Paul’s No. 3 Is Going To Bradley Beal, But His Legacy Stays Put

· Yahoo Sports

Chris Paul and No. 3 have been linked for most of his NBA career. Now Bradley Beal is set to wear the number again with the Los Angeles Clippers, but He made it clear that he does not see the move as a replacement for what Paul meant to the franchise.

Beal wore No. 3 throughout his career before joining Los Angeles last season. He switched to No. 0 when Paul returned to the Clippers, making the upcoming change more notable than a routine jersey-number switch.

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Bradley Beal Made His Respect For Chris Paul Clear

Beal addressed the reaction after the Clippers began selling his jersey with No. 3 on the team’s online store. He initially responded with, “Is that the topic of the day? Lol,” before making his position clearer about Paul’s place in Clippers history.

Clippers guard Bradley Beal (0) looks up at the scoreboard as he plays against the Suns during a game at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Nov. 6, 2025.

“He’s a legend! The HISTORY and BRAND can’t be touched, nor erased!!!” Beal wrote.

That matters because Beal had already shown respect for the number when Paul returned to Los Angeles. The Clippers said in 2025 that Beal offered Paul No. 3 after learning he was joining the team, and Beal moved to No. 0 for the season.

Now Beal is returning to the number he wore for the first 13 seasons of his career. The change appears to be personal for Beal, but his message makes it clear that he does not view the number as erasing Paul’s history.

Chris Paul Left No. 3 With A Lot To Live Up To

Paul spent seven seasons with the Clippers before returning for one final stint. He became the franchise’s career leader in assists and helped lead Los Angeles to six straight playoff appearances during the Lob City era. 

Chris Paul attends a San Antonio Spurs game
Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

His final season with the Clippers ended much differently. Paul was sent home early in the season, then eventually moved to Toronto before retiring after 21 NBA seasons. He later described how the situation affected him.

“It’s probably one of the most disrespectful things that I’ve endured,” Paul said. 

There is another reason the number carries extra weight. Paul said Clippers president Lawrence Frank told him his No. 3 would eventually be retired, although the franchise has not formally retired the number.

That leaves Beal in a strange position. He is taking back a number that has been part of his identity since entering the NBA, while also becoming the first Clippers player to wear it since Paul.

Feb 20, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) drives to the basket against San Antonio Spurs guard Chris Paul (3) during the first half the San Antonio Spurs at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

The number can change without the history changing with it. Beal’s return to No. 3 does not erase Paul’s seven-season impact on the Clippers or the role he played in turning the franchise into a consistent playoff team.

For Beal, the message is clear. No. 3 may be coming back to his jersey, but Chris Paul still owns a permanent place in the story behind it.

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