Is Kobe Bryant worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2005 SP Authentic · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant sells for $158 against $12.00 raw: a $146 spread, 13× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($46.77) 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)
- $12.00
- PSA 10
- $158
- PSA 9
- $46.77
- Gem premium
- 13×
- 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 | $158 | +$121 | +$96.14 | −$3.86 |
| PSA 9 | $46.77 | +$9.77 | −$15.23 | −$115 |
| PSA 8 | $23.50 | −$13.50 | −$38.50 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $12.00 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% | $74.61 | +$12.61 |
| 50% | $102 | +$40.45 |
| 75% | $130 | +$68.30 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 14%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $158 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| BGS 10 | $134 | −$24.14 | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| CGC 10 | $95.00 | −$63.14 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $95.00 | −$63.14 | 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 →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 2005 SP Authentic cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Michael Jordan [Limited Warm Ups Autograph] #12 2005 SP Authentic card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/a2kAAOSwlWRnqj6E/s-l500.jpg)
![Chris Paul [Autograph] #94 2005 SP Authentic card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FN8AAeSw9NpqDlL7/s-l500.jpg)
![LeBron James [Limited Warm Ups Autograph] #14 2005 SP Authentic card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/vQAAAOSwiTphz59~/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Kobe Bryant — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant sells for $158 against $12.00 raw: a $146 spread, 13× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($46.77) 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 Kobe Bryant worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant (Basketball Cards 2005 SP Authentic) sells for about $158 versus $12.00 for a raw near-mint copy — a 13× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $158, ahead of BGS 10 at $134. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant need for a PSA 10?
PSA publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 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 Kobe Bryant break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Kobe Bryant breaks even when it gems about 14% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $46.77).
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