Clippers give Chris Paul’s No. 3 to Bradley Beal, fans see it as a jab at a franchise great

Things just seem to be going from bad to worse for the Los Angeles Clippers this offseason.

First, they were stripped of heavy draft capital due to the Kawhi Leonard scandal; now they’re giving franchise legend and former Phoenix Suns player Chris Paul’s iconic No. 3 to fellow former Suns player Bradley Beal, who played in just six disappointing games in his first season with the Clippers.

Clippers fans are understandably furious, especially given how sourly Chris Paul’s career ended. However, Beal has come to his own defense on X.

“Is that the topic of the day? Lol,” Beal wrote on X. “He’s a legend! The HISTORY and BRAND can’t be touched, nor erased!!!”

Paul signed with the Clippers last offseason in hopes of running it back one last time with the team he was most associated with, but the Clippers started off with an abysmal 5-16 record, and they subsequently “sent Chris Paul home.”

There were reports that Paul’s leadership style didn’t align with the front office and that his efforts to hold his teammates and the organization accountable weren’t being received well.

So instead of having a retirement tour with his old team, he was out of a job just over 20 games into the season.

At the trade deadline, he was traded to the Toronto Raptors, who then released him, prompting his retirement.

To make matters worse, the Paul disrespect has gone further this offseason, with Beal switching his number from zero to three.

Since Paul left, nobody on the Clippers has touched the number out of respect for his legacy despite the number not being retired yet. This makes Beal’s decision even more puzzling.

Beal had a miserable first year with the Clippers, averaging 8.2 points in six games before being out for the remainder of the season with hip surgery, and now he’ll get to wear the number of a franchise legend.

How did fans react to Bradley Beal taking Chris Paul’s No. 3 jersey?

As you can imagine, Clippers fans aren’t too thrilled. From X:

bros shocked he’s getting slander for snatching the greatest player in the history of a franchises number – a player who also happened to be a friend of his

— aash (@aash_stb) September 10, 2026

Bradley Beal is set to wear Chris Paul’s No. 3 for the Clippers, blatantly disrespecting CP3’s legacy. This front office move shifts focus from their mistreatment of Paul. Seriously, who makes these calls?

— Dave Miller | NBA Takes (@DaveNBAtakes) September 10, 2026

lol you think after they just released Chris Paul without any regard they would care about giving his jersey number to Bradley Beal of all people, come on now. https://t.co/LxytsN1CZo

— Matick Hokushin (@SoulByDaPound) September 10, 2026

So why take the number then? Nobody has worn 3 since 2017 besides CP3.

— CP3REGION (@CP3REGION) September 10, 2026

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