![LaMarcus Aldridge [Gold Refractor] #96 (Basketball Cards 2006 Finest) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/jnoAAeSwiGdq4lcM/s-l1600.jpg)
Is LaMarcus Aldridge [Gold Refractor] #96 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2006 Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 LaMarcus Aldridge [Gold Refractor] #96 sells for $138 against $81.11 raw: a $56.89 spread, 1.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($125) 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)
- $81.11
- Grade 9.5
- $138
- PSA 9
- $125
- Gem premium
- 1.7×
- As of
- Sep 3, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $138 | +$31.89 | +$6.89 | −$93.11 |
| PSA 9 | $125 | +$18.89 | −$6.11 | −$106 |
Net = sale price − $81.11 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% | $128 | −$2.86 |
| 50% | $132 | +$0.39 |
| 75% | $135 | +$3.64 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 47%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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Grading LaMarcus Aldridge [Gold Refractor] #96 — FAQ
Is LaMarcus Aldridge [Gold Refractor] #96 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 LaMarcus Aldridge [Gold Refractor] #96 sells for $138 against $81.11 raw: a $56.89 spread, 1.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($125) 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.
What gem rate makes grading LaMarcus Aldridge [Gold Refractor] #96 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting LaMarcus Aldridge [Gold Refractor] #96 breaks even when it gems about 47% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $125).
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