Is Michael Jordan #J9 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1999 Upper Deck Retro Epic Jordan · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #J9 sells for $1,769 against $10.28 raw: a $1,759 spread, 172× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($56.00) 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)
- $10.28
- PSA 10
- $1,769
- PSA 9
- $56.00
- Gem premium
- 172×
- As of
- Sep 4, 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 | $1,769 | +$1,734 | +$1,709 | +$1,609 |
| PSA 9 | $56.00 | +$20.72 | −$4.28 | −$104 |
Net = sale price − $10.28 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% | $484 | +$424 |
| 50% | $913 | +$852 |
| 75% | $1,341 | +$1,280 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 0%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $2,300 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,769 | −$531 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,061 | −$1,239 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,061 | −$1,239 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1999 Upper Deck Retro Epic Jordan cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Michael Jordan #J9 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #J9 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #J9 sells for $1,769 against $10.28 raw: a $1,759 spread, 172× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($56.00) 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 Michael Jordan #J9 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #J9 (Basketball Cards 1999 Upper Deck Retro Epic Jordan) sells for about $1,769 versus $10.28 for a raw near-mint copy — a 172× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #J9?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,300, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,769. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #J9 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.
What gem rate makes grading Michael Jordan #J9 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan #J9 breaks even when it gems about 0% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $56.00).
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your basketball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
