Is Kobe Bryant #44 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2009 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #44 sells for $1,700 against $294 raw: a $1,406 spread, 5.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($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)
- $294
- PSA 10
- $1,700
- PSA 9
- $401
- Gem premium
- 5.8×
- 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 | $1,700 | +$1,381 | +$1,356 | +$1,256 |
| PSA 9 | $401 | +$81.39 | +$56.39 | −$43.61 |
| PSA 8 | $282 | −$36.98 | −$61.98 | −$162 |
Net = sale price − $294 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% | $726 | +$381 |
| 50% | $1,050 | +$706 |
| 75% | $1,375 | +$1,031 |
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 | $2,210 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,700 | −$510 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,020 | −$1,190 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,020 | −$1,190 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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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 →![LeBron James [Gold Refractor] #16 2009 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/TlMAAeSw2Mxqckqj/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #44 2009 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/GYAAAeSwIgNqKjn1/s-l500.jpg)
![LeBron James [Refractor] #16 2009 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/75IAAeSwT-hqmh~1/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Kobe Bryant #44 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant #44 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #44 sells for $1,700 against $294 raw: a $1,406 spread, 5.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($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 Kobe Bryant #44 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #44 (Basketball Cards 2009 Topps Chrome) sells for about $1,700 versus $294 for a raw near-mint copy — a 5.8× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant #44?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,210, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,700. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant #44 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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