Is Tim Duncan #21 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2008 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan #21 sells for $45.62 against $3.42 raw: a $42.20 spread, 13× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.99) 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)
- $3.42
- PSA 10
- $45.62
- PSA 9
- $39.99
- Gem premium
- 13×
- 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 | $45.62 | +$17.20 | −$7.80 | −$108 |
| PSA 9 | $39.99 | +$11.57 | −$13.43 | −$113 |
| PSA 8 | $8.81 | −$19.61 | −$44.61 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $3.42 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% | $41.40 | −$12.02 |
| 50% | $42.80 | −$10.62 |
| 75% | $44.21 | −$9.21 |
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 | $59.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $45.62 | −$13.38 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $27.00 | −$32.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $27.00 | −$32.00 | 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 | $45.62 | $27.00 | $59.00 | $27.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $45.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $39.99 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $8.81 |
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 Tim Duncan #21 — FAQ
Is Tim Duncan #21 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan #21 sells for $45.62 against $3.42 raw: a $42.20 spread, 13× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.99) 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 Tim Duncan #21 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan #21 (Basketball Cards 2008 Topps Chrome) sells for about $45.62 versus $3.42 for a raw near-mint copy — a 13× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Tim Duncan #21?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $59.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $45.62. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Tim Duncan #21 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.
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