Los Angeles Clippers' Paul Pierce, left, dribble against Milwaukee Bucks' Jabari Parker during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok)

Some of the other biggest names of his generation have retired, but Paul Pierce will forge ahead and play one more NBA season.

After a summer of contemplation, the former Kansas star, entering his 19th season in the league, announced Monday on The Players’ Tribune his intentions to play this coming year with the Los Angeles Clippers — and then retire. Pierce’s decision comes in the same offseason that saw such legends as Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Pierce’s former Boston and Brooklyn teammate Kevin Garnett call it quits.

“You know, I’ve played a lot of years
in this game. I’ve given this game all
I’ve had all my life,” Pierce said in
a recorded speech. “And just like any
difficult decision that you’ve ever
got to make in your life, I think
you’ve really got to be at peace with
yourself to make a decision like this.
I realize that it’s time to move on
from the game of basketball. It’s the
toughest decision I’ve ever had to
make in my life, but this is it. This
is my final season.”

As the 10-time all-star indicated on The Players’ Tribune post, Pierce remains hopeful the Clippers — led by younger stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin — can help the soon-to-be 39-year-old be a part of a championship level team in his final go-round through the NBA.

Pierce, of course, won a title with the Celtics in 2008, when he earned NBA Finals MVP honors.

For his career, “The Truth” has averaged 20.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists, while shooting 44.5% from the floor. But his numbers have been on a steady decline since Boston, the team that drafted him 10th overall in 1998, traded him away to start rebuilding.

This past season, Pierce’s first with L.A. after stints with the Nets and Washington, he averaged career lows in minutes (18.1), points (6.1), field goals attempted (5.8), field goals made (2.1), field-goal percentage (36.3%), rebounds (2.7), assists (1.0) and steals (0.5).

“I think I’ve had an illustrious
career,” Pierce said in The Players’
Tribune video. “I’m very satisfied
with the work that I’ve been able to
do over the past 18 years, and I
realize that you can’t play forever.
You know, this is a young man’s game,
and as I get older and not being able
to be as efficient and do a lot of the
things I do, you know, the signs, you
know, they’re there. You can’t reach
the goals that you put out there for
yourself like you’ve done in the past
and it gets harder as you get older
and the players get better. And I feel
like I have one more opportunity on a
great team and something to give on
and off the court.”

— Watch Pierce’s entire announcement video below: