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Is LeBron James [Black] #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2025 Topps Chrome Update · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 LeBron James [Black] #1 sells for $66,707 against $13,968 raw: a $52,739 spread, 4.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($22,491) 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)
- $13,968
- PSA 10
- $66,707
- PSA 9
- $22,491
- Gem premium
- 4.8×
- 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 | $66,707 | +$52,714 | +$52,689 | +$52,589 |
| PSA 9 | $22,491 | +$8,498 | +$8,473 | +$8,373 |
| PSA 8 | $12,771 | −$1,222 | −$1,247 | −$1,347 |
Net = sale price − $13,968 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% | $33,545 | +$19,527 |
| 50% | $44,599 | +$30,581 |
| 75% | $55,653 | +$41,635 |
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 | $86,719 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $66,707 | −$20,012 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $40,024 | −$46,695 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $40,024 | −$46,695 | 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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Other 2025 Topps Chrome Update cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading LeBron James [Black] #1 — FAQ
Is LeBron James [Black] #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 LeBron James [Black] #1 sells for $66,707 against $13,968 raw: a $52,739 spread, 4.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($22,491) 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 [Black] #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 LeBron James [Black] #1 (Basketball Cards 2025 Topps Chrome Update) sells for about $66,707 versus $13,968 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4.8× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for LeBron James [Black] #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $86,719, ahead of PSA 10 at $66,707. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does LeBron James [Black] #1 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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