Is Sam Bowie #162 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1984 Star · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Sam Bowie #162 sells for $1,722 against $26.47 raw: a $1,695 spread, 65× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($150) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $26.47
- PSA 10
- $1,722
- PSA 9
- $150
- Gem premium
- 65×
- As of
- Sep 3, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $1,722 | +$1,670 | +$1,645 | +$1,545 |
| PSA 9 | $150 | +$98.53 | +$73.53 | −$26.47 |
| PSA 8 | $80.66 | +$29.19 | +$4.19 | −$95.81 |
Net = sale price − $26.47 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $543 | +$467 |
| 50% | $936 | +$859 |
| 75% | $1,329 | +$1,252 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $2,238 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,722 | −$516 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,033 | −$1,205 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,033 | −$1,205 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
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Grading Sam Bowie #162 — FAQ
Is Sam Bowie #162 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Sam Bowie #162 sells for $1,722 against $26.47 raw: a $1,695 spread, 65× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($150) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Sam Bowie #162 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Sam Bowie #162 (Basketball Cards 1984 Star) sells for about $1,722 versus $26.47 for a raw near-mint copy — a 65× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Sam Bowie #162?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,238, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,722. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Sam Bowie #162 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
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