Beal takes Chris Paul’s No. 3: “He’s a legend”

The Los Angeles Clippers have essentially revealed Bradley Beal’s new jersey number for the 2026-27 season. And the choice is anything but ordinary: the former Wizards star will once again wear No. 3, the number that was synonymous with Chris Paul during his years in Los Angeles.

The final confirmation has yet to arrive, but there are plenty of signs pointing in that direction. Beal’s No. 3 jersey has already appeared on the franchise’s official team store, and according to ESPN, NBA sources have confirmed that it will indeed be his number next season.

The decision has inevitably sparked debate, especially given how much CP3 has meant to the Clippers’ recent history. Beal, however, took to social media to make his position clear:

He’s a legend. His HISTORY and his BRAND cannot be touched or erased!!!

Bradley Beal

For Beal, the move is really a return to his roots. No. 3 was Bradley Beal’s jersey number for the first 13 seasons of his NBA career, first with the Washington Wizards and later with the Phoenix Suns.

When he joined the Clippers in the summer of 2025, the franchise initially gave him No. 3. Shortly afterward, however, Chris Paul’s return changed those plans.

Beal himself gave the number to CP3, choosing No. 0 for his first season in Los Angeles. Lawrence Frank said at the time that the gesture had come directly from the player, who wanted to respect the connection between Paul, No. 3 and the franchise.

Now the situation is completely different. Chris Paul retired in February 2026 after 21 NBA seasons, allowing Beal to reclaim the number that has defined virtually his entire career.

Will the Clippers retire Chris Paul’s No. 3?

That inevitably raises the question: if the Clippers are allowing No. 3 to be worn again, does that mean they have changed their minds about retiring it?

Not necessarily.

Paul said that Lawrence Frank had assured him that his No. 3 jersey would eventually be retired by the Clippers. Allowing Beal to wear it in the meantime would therefore not prevent the franchise from permanently honoring the number down the road.

After all, it would be nearly impossible to discuss the Clippers’ recent history without mentioning CP3.

Paul remains the franchise’s all-time leader in assists and, alongside Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, was one of the faces of the iconic “Lob City” era. With him running the offense, Los Angeles reached the playoffs in six consecutive seasons.

The relationship between the two sides, however, ended on a sour note. After being sent home by the Clippers in December 2025, Paul recently revisited the situation, calling it:

Probably one of the most disrespectful things I’ve ever experienced

Chris Paul

No. 3 has a new owner once again, but Chris Paul’s place in Clippers history is unlikely to change. For Beal, meanwhile, it could mean something very different: a return to his roots after a season to forget and perhaps the starting point for reviving a career that has lost considerable ground in recent years.