Nov 6, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal (0) against the Phoenix Suns at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Bradley Beal seems to have made his stance clear after drawing major flak for taking over Chris Paul’s iconic number 3 jersey with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Beal is expected to wear number 3 for the 2026-27 season, a number he is returning to, something which he wore for most of his career with the Washington Wizards and Phoenix Suns. That decision immediately caused major backlash because Paul wore number 3 throughout his legendary Clippers tenure, and he had been told that the franchise intends to retire his number.
After seeing the reaction online, Beal initially responded sarcastically.
“Is that the topic of the day? Lol.”
He then made it clear that the number he was wearing should not be viewed as an attempt to diminish Paul’s legacy and standing with the franchise.
“He’s a legend!”
“The HISTORY and BRAND can’t be touched, nor erased!!!”
The controversy just stems from how synonymous number 3 has been with Paul.
Paul wore the number during his first Clippers stint from 2011 to 2017, where he helped transform the franchise, which had spent several decades just striving for relevance. Next to Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, Chris Paul became the leader of the Lob City era as he took the Clippers to six consecutive playoff appearances and helped the franchise win its first two division titles in 2013 and 2014.
Paul eventually returned to the Clippers last season, where it was expected to be a farewell campaign, but the reunion ended pretty badly after just 16 games.
Paul later described his final Clippers stint as one of the most disrespectful experiences of his career. He said the situation taught him that regardless of what a player had previously accomplished for an organization, nobody cares.
That history made Beal’s number change very, very sensitive.
Beal actually wore the number zero during his first season with the Clippers because Paul still had number 3, but with Paul now retired, Beal has reclaimed the number he wore throughout his Wizards career and during his first two seasons with the Suns.
For Beal, the number clearly carries great significance as well. He spent more than a decade wearing the number 3 before coming to Los Angeles, becoming a three-time All-Star and one-time All-NBA selection along the way.
But still, a lot of fans think the Clippers should have temporarily kept that jersey out of circulation, especially because Paul said Clippers president Lawrence Frank had told him the organization plans to retire this number.
Beal, however, does not believe his decision is in any way a shot at Paul’s legacy, and he might have a point.
Another player wearing the number 3 jersey does not destroy what Paul has accomplished in Los Angeles. He helped turn the Clippers from a joke into a proper Western Conference contender, and his place in the franchise’s history remains secure regardless of what happens with that jersey.
But considering how poorly Paul’s final Clippers stint went, allowing another player to immediately take on this number would have always created controversy.
Beal understands this reaction. He simply does not think this jersey number can undo Paul’s history.