Is Kobe Bryant #87 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2012 Panini Contenders · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #87 sells for $51.00 against $5.87 raw: a $45.13 spread, 8.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.08) 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)
- $5.87
- PSA 10
- $51.00
- PSA 9
- $38.08
- Gem premium
- 8.7×
- 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 | $51.00 | +$20.13 | −$4.87 | −$105 |
| PSA 9 | $38.08 | +$7.21 | −$17.79 | −$118 |
| PSA 8 | $10.30 | −$20.57 | −$45.57 | −$146 |
Net = sale price − $5.87 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% | $41.31 | −$14.56 |
| 50% | $44.54 | −$11.33 |
| 75% | $47.77 | −$8.10 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $66.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $51.00 | −$15.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $39.34 | −$26.66 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $31.00 | −$35.00 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $51.00 | $31.00 | $66.00 | $39.34 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $42.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $38.08 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $10.30 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2012 Panini Contenders cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Klay Thompson [Autograph Gold] #271 2012 Panini Contenders card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/6yUAAeSw6yBpjg0p/s-l500.jpg)
![Kawhi Leonard [Autograph Gold] #263 2012 Panini Contenders card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fAQAAeSwE99qOUni/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Kobe Bryant #87 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant #87 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #87 sells for $51.00 against $5.87 raw: a $45.13 spread, 8.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.08) 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 Kobe Bryant #87 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #87 (Basketball Cards 2012 Panini Contenders) sells for about $51.00 versus $5.87 for a raw near-mint copy — a 8.7× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant #87?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $66.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $51.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant #87 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