Is LeBron James #AE-1 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 LeBron James #AE-1 sells for $69,053 against $13,901 raw: a $55,152 spread, 5.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30,000) 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)
- $13,901
- PSA 10
- $69,053
- PSA 9
- $30,000
- Gem premium
- 5.0×
- As of
- Nov 1, 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 | $69,053 | +$55,127 | +$55,102 | +$55,002 |
| PSA 9 | $30,000 | +$16,074 | +$16,049 | +$15,949 |
| PSA 8 | $18,300 | +$4,374 | +$4,349 | +$4,249 |
Net = sale price − $13,901 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% | $39,763 | +$25,812 |
| 50% | $49,527 | +$35,575 |
| 75% | $59,290 | +$45,339 |
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 | $89,769 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $69,053 | −$20,716 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $41,432 | −$48,337 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $27,621 | −$62,148 | 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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Grading LeBron James #AE-1 — FAQ
Is LeBron James #AE-1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #AE-1 sells for $69,053 against $13,901 raw: a $55,152 spread, 5.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30,000) 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 #AE-1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #AE-1 (Basketball Cards 2025 Topps Chrome Update Alter Ego) sells for about $69,053 versus $13,901 for a raw near-mint copy — a 5.0× premium as of Nov 1, 2026.
Which grading company is best for LeBron James #AE-1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $89,769, ahead of PSA 10 at $69,053. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does LeBron James #AE-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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