Beal Expected to Wear Paul’s No. 3 for Clippers

Bradley Beal is expected to wear No. 3 for the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2026-27 season, reclaiming the number he wore during his first 13 NBA seasons with Washington and Phoenix. The Clippers listed his No. 3 jersey for sale online, prompting criticism from fans because the number is closely associated with Chris Paul, the franchise’s all-time assists leader and a central figure of its Lob City era. Paul was sent home by the Clippers late in his final season and retired shortly afterward, but wearing No. 3 does not formally prevent the team from eventually retiring his jersey. Paul has said Clippers president Lawrence Frank told him the team would retire his number, although the Clippers have never retired a number. Beal said Paul’s legacy and the history associated with No. 3 “can’t be touched, nor erased.” Beal played only six games last season because of a hip injury and re-signed with the Clippers on a two-year, $13.2 million contract.