Los Angeles Clippers guard Bradley Beal could be set to wear his preferred No. 3 jersey again this season, one year after giving it up for franchise legend Chris Paul. The speculation began when fans spotted Beal's No. 3 Clippers jersey for sale on the team's official online store this week. Beal, who wore No. 0 last season, has not confirmed the switch but defended Paul's legacy on social media. The Clippers' recent form shows a 2W-0D-3L record in their last five outings, including a 120-101 loss to the Denver Nuggets on May 3, 2025.
Fans noticed the Clippers' online store offering Bradley Beal jerseys with the No. 3 on Thursday. This immediately fueled talk that a number change was coming for the upcoming NBA season. Beal wore No. 3 for 13 seasons with the Washington Wizards and Phoenix Suns before joining the Clippers. Last summer, he agreed to wear No. 0 so the newly signed Chris Paul could have No. 3. Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said at the time that Beal made the gesture before Paul even knew it was a possibility.
Beal responded to the online buzz with a series of posts on X. He didn't confirm or deny the jersey switch. Instead, he focused on praising Paul's impact. "Is that the topic of the day? Lol," Beal wrote. He added, "(Paul’s) a legend! The HISTORY and BRAND can’t be touched, nor erased!!!" Representatives for both Beal and the Clippers have not commented on the potential number change.
Chris Paul's connection to the Clippers and the No. 3 jersey is deep. He first wore it for the team from 2011 to 2017, leading them to five consecutive 50-win seasons alongside Blake Griffin. That era transformed the franchise's reputation. Paul left via trade but returned last summer on a free agent deal many thought would be his final NBA season. His second stint ended abruptly. The Clippers sent him home in early December after a poor start, and he retired in February without playing another game.
In a recent podcast interview, Paul called the situation "one of the most disrespectful things that I’ve endured." The Clippers have never retired a jersey number in their history. Paul was widely seen as the clear first candidate for that honor. Besides Paul, the last Clipper to wear No. 3 was Al-Farouq Aminu during the 2010-11 season. Aminu was actually part of the trade that originally brought Paul to Los Angeles from New Orleans.
The Clippers re-signed the 33-year-old Beal to a two-year, $13.2 million contract this summer. The deal includes a player option for the second season. His first year in LA was brutally short. A fractured left hip limited him to just six games. Getting Beal healthy and productive is a major priority for a team looking to improve its playoff positioning.
On the court, the Clippers will aim to build consistency after a mixed bag of recent results. Their last five games included wins like a 111-105 victory over Denver on May 2, 2025, but also heavy losses such as a 131-115 defeat on April 30. The sequence of results was LWLLW. Beal reclaiming his iconic number could symbolize a fresh start for him and the team. Whether he officially makes the switch back to No. 3 is not yet clear, but the jersey is already for sale.
