![Michael Jordan [Gold] #18 (Basketball Cards 2009 Upper Deck Jordan Legacy) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FYMAAeSwjk9ppy46/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Michael Jordan [Gold] #18 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2009 Upper Deck Jordan Legacy · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Gold] #18 sells for $170 against $14.50 raw: a $156 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($44.99) 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)
- $14.50
- PSA 10
- $170
- PSA 9
- $44.99
- Gem premium
- 12×
- 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 | $170 | +$131 | +$106 | +$5.50 |
| PSA 9 | $44.99 | +$5.49 | −$19.51 | −$120 |
Net = sale price − $14.50 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% | $76.24 | +$11.74 |
| 50% | $107 | +$43.00 |
| 75% | $139 | +$74.25 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 16%. 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 | $221 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $170 | −$51.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $102 | −$119 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $39.99 | −$181 | 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 | $170 | $102 | $221 | $39.99 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $49.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $44.99 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $7.50 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2009 Upper Deck Jordan Legacy cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Michael Jordan [Gold] #98 2009 Upper Deck Jordan Legacy card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tjwAAeSwg11qJHem/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Gold] #51 2009 Upper Deck Jordan Legacy card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/aaMAAeSweFVqBc4o/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Gold] #3 2009 Upper Deck Jordan Legacy card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xtsAAeSwoi5qY6wV/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Gold] #99 2009 Upper Deck Jordan Legacy card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/RfQAAeSwdqlqX~aR/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Gold] #96 2009 Upper Deck Jordan Legacy card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mWwAAeSw1stqW2JT/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Gold] #7 2009 Upper Deck Jordan Legacy card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ysMAAeSwSFFqWAUJ/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan [Gold] #18 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan [Gold] #18 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Gold] #18 sells for $170 against $14.50 raw: a $156 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($44.99) 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 Michael Jordan [Gold] #18 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Gold] #18 (Basketball Cards 2009 Upper Deck Jordan Legacy) sells for about $170 versus $14.50 for a raw near-mint copy — a 12× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan [Gold] #18?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $221, ahead of PSA 10 at $170. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan [Gold] #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.
What gem rate makes grading Michael Jordan [Gold] #18 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan [Gold] #18 breaks even when it gems about 16% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $44.99).
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.
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