Is Michael Jordan #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1995 Skybox E XL No Boundaries · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #1 sells for $4,000 against $238 raw: a $3,763 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($512) 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)
- $238
- PSA 10
- $4,000
- PSA 9
- $512
- Gem premium
- 17×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $4,000 | +$3,738 | +$3,713 | +$3,613 |
| PSA 9 | $512 | +$250 | +$225 | +$125 |
| PSA 8 | $222 | −$41.00 | −$66.00 | −$166 |
Net = sale price − $238 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% | $1,384 | +$1,097 |
| 50% | $2,256 | +$1,969 |
| 75% | $3,128 | +$2,841 |
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 | $5,200 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $4,000 | −$1,200 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,400 | −$2,800 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $2,400 | −$2,800 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $4,000 | $2,400 | $5,200 | $2,400 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $802 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $512 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $222 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Grading Michael Jordan #1 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #1 sells for $4,000 against $238 raw: a $3,763 spread, 17× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($512) 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 #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #1 (Basketball Cards 1995 Skybox E XL No Boundaries) sells for about $4,000 versus $238 for a raw near-mint copy — a 17× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $5,200, ahead of PSA 10 at $4,000. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #1 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.
Is your basketball card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
Check my card free