![LeBron James [Gold Refractor] #16 (Basketball Cards 2009 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/TlMAAeSw2Mxqckqj/s-l1600.jpg)
Is LeBron James [Gold Refractor] #16 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2009 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 LeBron James [Gold Refractor] #16 sells for $85,100 against $10,000 raw: a $75,100 spread, 8.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($15,401) 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)
- $10,000
- PSA 10
- $85,100
- PSA 9
- $15,401
- Gem premium
- 8.5×
- As of
- Aug 16, 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 | $85,100 | +$75,075 | +$75,050 | +$74,950 |
| PSA 9 | $15,401 | +$5,376 | +$5,351 | +$5,251 |
| PSA 8 | $10,325 | +$300 | +$275 | +$175 |
Net = sale price − $10,000 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% | $32,826 | +$22,776 |
| 50% | $50,251 | +$40,201 |
| 75% | $67,675 | +$57,625 |
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 | $110,630 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $85,100 | −$25,530 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $51,060 | −$59,570 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $51,060 | −$59,570 | 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 | $85,100 | $51,060 | $110,630 | $51,060 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $27,609 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $15,401 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $10,325 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $8,260 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2009 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #44 2009 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/GYAAAeSwIgNqKjn1/s-l500.jpg)
Grading LeBron James [Gold Refractor] #16 — FAQ
Is LeBron James [Gold Refractor] #16 worth grading?
A PSA 10 LeBron James [Gold Refractor] #16 sells for $85,100 against $10,000 raw: a $75,100 spread, 8.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($15,401) 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 [Gold Refractor] #16 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 LeBron James [Gold Refractor] #16 (Basketball Cards 2009 Topps Chrome) sells for about $85,100 versus $10,000 for a raw near-mint copy — a 8.5× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for LeBron James [Gold Refractor] #16?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $110,630, ahead of PSA 10 at $85,100. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does LeBron James [Gold Refractor] #16 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