After a ceremony filled with stories, laughter and cheer, Paul Pierce's No. 34 is retired and sent to the rafters with the other iconic numbers in Celtics' lore. (0:43)

BOSTON -- Less than a decade after tears filled his eyes as he raised the Boston Celtics' 2008 title banner, Paul Pierce was all smiles as his No. 34 went to the rafters at TD Garden during a jersey retirement celebration Sunday following the Celtics' 121-99 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Surrounded by his family, Pierce watched his No. 34 jersey takes its place alongside other Celtics legends and Boston's 17 championship banners. He then grabbed the Larry O'Brien trophy from the 2008 NBA Finals and raised it in celebration at center court as Celtics fans roared and serenaded him with a "Thank You Paul Pierce" chant.

Paul Pierce saw his No. 34 retired after the Celtics lost to the Cavaliers on Sunday. Adam Glanzman/Getty Images

"When you are forever with the Celtics, you're forever," Pierce said following the ceremony.

"If I never make the Hall of Fame or anything, to go up and make the rafters as a retired number for the Celtics, that's just enough. That's enough for me. Everything else is icing on the cake."

Pierce is the 22nd number retired in Celtics history. He joined an eight-square banner that already featured the numbers of Dennis Johnson (3), Larry Bird (33), Kevin McHale (32), Reggie Lewis (35), Robert Parish (00), and Cedric Maxwell (31). There's an open spot on the banner that seems likely to someday soon be filled by 2008 teammate Kevin Garnett, who was just one of the former Celtics in attendance for Pierce's special day.

During an in-game video, Los Angeles Lakers legends Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant both saluted Pierce. Johnson noted that Pierce "earned it and deserved" his retired number after helping Boston to a title, while Bryant noted how Pierce made "all the Celtics legends proud."

Pierce seemed genuinely moved by their messages.

"I didn't expect that at all, especially coming from rivals and it just helps me realize the impact that I was able to have and the respect that I was given throughout the course of my career," Pierce said. "You've heard Kobe say it, you've heard LeBron [James] say it. I wasn't a flashy player or had the commercials and top-selling shoes, but I was a player that was well-respected, and people know when I came into the gym that they had to be ready also. For them to give the praise they gave that means a lot because Magic Johnson was my idol and Kobe Bryant was my rival. It means a lot."

Former Celtics coach Doc Rivers fulfilled a promise to Pierce by leaving his current team, the LA Clippers, for the day in order to be part of the festivities. Rivers, Celtics co-owner Wyc Grousbeck and president of basketball operations Danny Ainge each game speeches about what Pierce meant to the Celtics franchise and how his perseverance helped deliver the team's 17th world title.

Rivers noted how, during that 2008 season, he huddled Celtics players in Los Angeles and told them that they were going to beat the Lakers in the Finals and that everyone would eventually reconvene in Boston for Pierce's jersey retirement ceremony.

"Sometimes in life, you gotta dream first before it happens," Rivers said.

True to their word, many from the 2008 team were in attendance, including Garnett and Rajon Rondo. Rondo's New Orleans Pelicans had a day off after playing in Brooklyn on Saturday. Other members of the 2008 title team on hand included James Posey (now a Cavaliers assistant), Brian Scalabrine and Leon Powe.

Before Sunday's ceremony, Rivers had noted how big of an honor it is for a player to have his jersey number retired in Boston.

"In basketball, I don't think there's any other place you could choose where you would want your number retired. It would be with Boston," Rivers said. "When you're in the practice facility you see the numbers every day. You see the banners and the numbers. It means something. Before I got here I didn't realize it. You always hear about the Celtics lore, but you didn't get it if you weren't in it."