Is Magic Johnson #AR-26 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #AR-26 sells for $140 against $8.50 raw: a $132 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($48.74) 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)
- $8.50
- PSA 10
- $140
- PSA 9
- $48.74
- Gem premium
- 16×
- 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 | $140 | +$107 | +$81.60 | −$18.40 |
| PSA 9 | $48.74 | +$15.24 | −$9.76 | −$110 |
| PSA 8 | $27.39 | −$6.11 | −$31.11 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $8.50 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% | $71.58 | +$13.08 |
| 50% | $94.42 | +$35.92 |
| 75% | $117 | +$58.76 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 11%. 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 | $182 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $140 | −$41.90 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $84.00 | −$98.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $84.00 | −$98.00 | 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 Magic Johnson #AR-26 — FAQ
Is Magic Johnson #AR-26 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #AR-26 sells for $140 against $8.50 raw: a $132 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($48.74) 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 Magic Johnson #AR-26 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #AR-26 (Basketball Cards 2025 Topps Three Architects) sells for about $140 versus $8.50 for a raw near-mint copy — a 16× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Magic Johnson #AR-26?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $182, ahead of PSA 10 at $140. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Magic Johnson #AR-26 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 Magic Johnson #AR-26 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Magic Johnson #AR-26 breaks even when it gems about 11% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $48.74).
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