![LeBron James [Gold] #SQ-17 (Basketball Cards 2008 Upper Deck Starquest) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/nn0AAeSw8fBqWhbH/s-l1600.jpg)
Is LeBron James [Gold] #SQ-17 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2008 Upper Deck Starquest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 LeBron James [Gold] #SQ-17 sells for $606 against $59.25 raw: a $547 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($84.99) 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)
- $59.25
- PSA 10
- $606
- PSA 9
- $84.99
- Gem premium
- 10×
- 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 | $606 | +$522 | +$497 | +$397 |
| PSA 9 | $84.99 | +$0.74 | −$24.26 | −$124 |
Net = sale price − $59.25 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% | $215 | +$106 |
| 50% | $345 | +$236 |
| 75% | $476 | +$366 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 5%. 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 | $788 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $606 | −$182 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $364 | −$424 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $364 | −$424 | 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.
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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 2008 Upper Deck Starquest cards worth checking
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Grading LeBron James [Gold] #SQ-17 — FAQ
Is LeBron James [Gold] #SQ-17 worth grading?
A PSA 10 LeBron James [Gold] #SQ-17 sells for $606 against $59.25 raw: a $547 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($84.99) 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 LeBron James [Gold] #SQ-17 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 LeBron James [Gold] #SQ-17 (Basketball Cards 2008 Upper Deck Starquest) sells for about $606 versus $59.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 10× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for LeBron James [Gold] #SQ-17?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $788, ahead of PSA 10 at $606. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does LeBron James [Gold] #SQ-17 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 LeBron James [Gold] #SQ-17 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting LeBron James [Gold] #SQ-17 breaks even when it gems about 5% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $84.99).
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