Is LeBron James #18 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2013 Panini Innovation Kaboom · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 LeBron James #18 sells for $28,215 against $2,570 raw: a $25,645 spread, 11× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($23,513) 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)
- $2,570
- PSA 10
- $28,215
- PSA 9
- $23,513
- Gem premium
- 11×
- 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 | $28,215 | +$25,620 | +$25,595 | +$25,495 |
| PSA 9 | $23,513 | +$20,918 | +$20,893 | +$20,793 |
| PSA 8 | $11,052 | +$8,457 | +$8,432 | +$8,332 |
Net = sale price − $2,570 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% | $24,688 | +$22,068 |
| 50% | $25,864 | +$23,244 |
| 75% | $27,039 | +$24,419 |
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 | $36,680 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $28,215 | −$8,465 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $16,929 | −$19,751 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $16,929 | −$19,751 | 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 LeBron James #18 — FAQ
Is LeBron James #18 worth grading?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #18 sells for $28,215 against $2,570 raw: a $25,645 spread, 11× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($23,513) 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 LeBron James #18 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #18 (Basketball Cards 2013 Panini Innovation Kaboom) sells for about $28,215 versus $2,570 for a raw near-mint copy — a 11× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for LeBron James #18?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $36,680, ahead of PSA 10 at $28,215. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does LeBron James #18 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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