Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul Pierce announced Monday he will retire at the end of the 2016-17 season, his 19th in the NBA.The 38-year-old Pierce made the announcement in a post published by The Players' Tribune. Pierce said he is eager to win a championship with the Clippers."This is it, my final season," Pierce wrote. "It's time to move on from the game of basketball. Just like any difficult decision, I think you've got to be at peace with yourself. I'm at peace with retiring, but I've got one more ride left. One more season. One more opportunity."With the Clippers, in the city where I grew up, I feel like I have that opportunity on a great team. We're hungry. We want to win a championship."After 18 NBA years, it's hard to believe I'll be playing in each arena for the last time. So I'm going to enjoy every practice, every bus ride, every team dinner, every time running out through the tunnel. I'm going to do my part to give us a shot at the ultimate goal."Pierce was selected in the first round of the 1998 NBA draft and spent his first 15 seasons with the Boston Celtics -- nine of them for Clippers coach Doc Rivers, including winning the NBA championship in 2007.Pierce, who has also played for the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards, signed a three-year, $10 million deal with the Clippers before last season. The 6-foot-7, 235-pound Pierce was named an NBA All-Star 10 times and enters this season fourth on the all-time list in 3-point field goals made. He has averaged 20 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in his career.