Clippers No. 3 Controversy
Bradley Beal Expected to Wear Chris Paul’s No. 3 for Clippers
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Key Points
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The Clippers initially assigned No. 3 to Beal after signing him in 2025, but team president Lawrence Frank said Beal offered the number back to Chris Paul when Paul joined the roster.
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Paul described the Clippers’ decision to send him home during his final season as “probably one of the most disrespectful things I’ve endured.”
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Fans criticized the decision because Paul had reportedly expected to return to the Clippers for a farewell season and believed his No. 3 would ultimately be retired; one fan called giving the number to Beal “down right disrespectful.”
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Paul’s association with No. 3 extends beyond his Clippers tenure: he wore it with the Hornets, Rockets and Suns, including during Phoenix’s run to the NBA Finals, as well as late-career stints with the Warriors and Spurs.
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The Clippers are the only NBA team that has never formally retired a jersey number, adding to the uncertainty over how the franchise might eventually honor Paul.
Bradley Beal will wear No. 3 for the Los Angeles Clippers starting in the 2026-27 season, reclaiming the number he wore for his first 13 NBA seasons. The move has ignited backlash from fans because the number is tied to Arizona Sports franchise legend Chris Paul, who led the team in assists during its Lob City era. Paul said the Clippers promised to retire his number, but the team has never formally retired a jersey in its history.
The controversy deepens the perception that the Clippers mishandled Paul's departure. Team president Lawrence Frank said Beal offered the number back to Paul when Paul joined the roster, but Paul described being sent home during his final season as "probably one of the most disrespectful things I've endured." Beal, who played only six games last season due to a hip injury, re-signed on a two-year, $13.2 million deal.
Why Chris Paul's Number Sparked Outrage
Paul wore No. 3 throughout his Clippers career and beyond. He donned it with the Hornets, Rockets, Suns, Warriors, and Spurs. The number became his identity, especially during Phoenix's 2021 run to the NBA Finals. For Clippers fans, No. 3 symbolizes the franchise's best era — one defined by Paul's playmaking and leadership.
Reassigning the number felt like a final insult to many supporters. Arizona Sports reported that one fan called giving the number to Beal "down right disrespectful." Paul had expected to return for a farewell season, not exit quietly. The timing made the decision appear calculated rather than respectful.
The Clippers' History of Never Retiring Numbers
The Los Angeles Clippers stand alone in the NBA — they have never formally retired a single jersey number. This historical gap creates uncertainty around any future tribute to Paul. While wearing No. 3 does not legally prevent the team from retiring it later, the absence of precedent raises questions about commitment.
Frank stated that Paul was told his number would be retired, but no formal announcement ever came. This gap between promise and procedure fueled fan skepticism. Without a clear retirement policy, the Clippers left room for doubt about whether honoring Paul was truly a priority.
Beal's Role in a Controversial Transition
Beal said Paul's legacy and the history associated with No. 3 "can't be touched, nor erased." He acknowledged the weight of taking the number. Yet Beal played only six games in his first Clippers season due to injury, making the symbolic handoff harder for fans to accept. A healthy, productive season might have eased tensions.
The Clippers initially assigned No. 3 to Beal after signing him in 2025. Frank later said Beal offered to return it to Paul, but Paul's abrupt exit had already poisoned the relationship. The sequence of events — Paul being sent home, then Beal taking his number — reinforced a pattern of organizational dysfunction.
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