![Michael Jordan [Retail] #29 (Basketball Cards 2008 SP Authentic) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/dL4AAeSw0olqOTow/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Michael Jordan [Retail] #29 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2008 SP Authentic · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Retail] #29 sells for $164 against $16.56 raw: a $147 spread, 9.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.50) 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)
- $16.56
- PSA 10
- $164
- PSA 9
- $51.50
- Gem premium
- 9.9×
- 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 | $164 | +$122 | +$96.94 | −$3.06 |
| PSA 9 | $51.50 | +$9.94 | −$15.06 | −$115 |
| PSA 8 | $22.50 | −$19.06 | −$44.06 | −$144 |
Net = sale price − $16.56 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% | $79.50 | +$12.94 |
| 50% | $108 | +$40.94 |
| 75% | $136 | +$68.94 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 13%. 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 | $213 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $164 | −$49.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $51.00 | −$162 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $26.00 | −$187 | 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 | $164 | $26.00 | $213 | $51.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $125 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $51.50 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $22.50 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $6.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Michael Jordan [Retail] #29 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan [Retail] #29 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Retail] #29 sells for $164 against $16.56 raw: a $147 spread, 9.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.50) 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 [Retail] #29 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Retail] #29 (Basketball Cards 2008 SP Authentic) sells for about $164 versus $16.56 for a raw near-mint copy — a 9.9× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan [Retail] #29?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $213, ahead of PSA 10 at $164. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan [Retail] #29 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 [Retail] #29 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan [Retail] #29 breaks even when it gems about 13% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $51.50).
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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