From the moment he was traded away from Boston in the summer of 2013, Paul Pierce made it clear that his intent was to retire as a member of the Celtics. On Monday afternoon, he did just that.

Last summer Paul decided he was going to play one more season and hang up his sneakers and jersey after a 19-year career. This past spring, he played his last NBA game, with the Los Angeles Clippers in the playoffs. But he wasn’t done with Boston. He signed a one-day contract to officially retire with the team he spent 15 of those 19 seasons with. And that was always part of the plan.

“It’s an honor to have this opportunity to once again call myself a Boston Celtic,” Paul said. “The organization and city took me in and made me one of their own, and I couldn’t imagine ending my career any other way. I’m a Celtic for life.”

Paul was drafted by the Celtics with the 10th overall pick in the 1998 NBA Draft and went on to become a Boston legend. He was a 10-time NBA All-Star in Beantown and took the Celtics to the playoffs 10 times in 15 years, including two Finals appearances and a championship in 2008. For that and so much more, Boston was happy to welcome The Truth back on a one-day contract that allowed him to retire a Celtic and the retiring of his famed No. 34 is sure to follow this coming season.

“We’re honored that Paul has chosen to retire as a Celtic. He is among the very best Celtics – a champion on and off the court,” said Celtics governor and managing partner Wyc Grousbeck. “We congratulate Paul on a Hall of Fame career, and look forward to seeing his number raised to the rafters of TD Garden.”