Certain things remain constant: sunrise occurs daily, the chlorophyll in plants creates a green hue, and Chris Paul identifies with the number 3. These consistencies hold firm, underscored by a thoughtful action from Bradley Beal, Paul’s latest colleague on the Los Angeles Clippers roster.
Throughout his NBA journey, Beal has donned No. 3, but he willingly proposed relinquishing it to Paul, affectionately dubbed “CP3” by supporters. Lawrence Frank, president of basketball operations for the Clippers, unveiled this information during Tuesday’s press gathering.
“Upon hearing the potential arrival of Chris, Brad promptly declared, ‘I want to offer him my number.’ I’m not sure Chris is even aware of this,” Frank stated. “It’s quite admirable that Brad extended such a generous gesture. Chris will indeed wear No. 3.”
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Brad Botkin
At 40 years of age, Paul is embarking on his 21st NBA season, marking his second engagement with the Clippers. He officially committed to Los Angeles earlier in the week, shortly after Beal independently reached an agreement to join the squad.
Paul made his league debut in 2005, while Beal followed seven years later. Beal’s act mirrors Keldon Johnson’s, who yielded No. 3 to Paul last year while with the San Antonio Spurs. Frank mentioned that Beal has yet to finalize his new jersey number.
“Brad is truly a remarkable individual and an exceptional teammate, having proudly worn No. 3 throughout his career. With three All-Star selections and an impressive 17,000 points scored in No. 3, he also understands the significance of that jersey to Chris,” Frank explained. “There’s a valid reason he’s recognized as ‘CP3.’ Given the profound meaning of Chris’s return to the Clippers, Brad willingly offered Chris his number.”
Paul holds the distinction of being the Clippers’ all-time leader in assists and steals per game, accumulated during his tenure with the team from 2011 to 2017. Paul was subsequently traded to the Houston Rockets and has since had stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, and Spurs before his homecoming to the Clippers.
