LOS ANGELES -- LA Clippers guard Bradley Beal is expected to don the No. 3 jersey long associated with franchise legend Chris Paul during the 2026-27 NBA season.
Beal's new jersey number is available on the team's online store, and league sources told ESPN that Beal plans to wear No. 3.
Beal also appeared to address the situation in a social media post Thursday.
"He's a legend," Beal wrote. "The HISTORY and BRAND can't be touched, nor erased!!!"
Beal, 33, wore No. 3 for the first 13 seasons of his career with the Washington Wizards and Phoenix Suns before switching to No. 0 last season, his first with the Clippers, to accommodate Paul. Paul, 41, wore No. 3 for the Clippers from 2011 to 2017 and during his short-lived return to the franchise last season.
The Clippers initially gave No. 3 to Beal after signing him in the summer of 2025, but Clippers president Lawrence Frank said at the time that Beal offered the number back to Paul once he joined the roster.
After being sent home by the Clippers in December 2025, Paul announced his retirement in February after 21 seasons. Paul said in February that Frank told him that his No. 3 jersey would eventually be retired by the franchise.
Beal wearing No. 3 doesn't preclude the Clippers from honoring Paul with a jersey retirement in the future.
Paul was outspoken about his abrupt departure from the Clippers in an interview published last week, calling it "probably one of the most disrespectful things I've endured."
Long known as CP3, Paul is the Clippers' career leader in assists, led the franchise to the playoffs in six straight seasons and oversaw the "Lob City" era with Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.
Beal, who was limited to six games last season due to injury, re-signed with the Clippers on a two-year, $13.2 million contract this summer.