![Kobe Bryant [Limited] #38 (Basketball Cards 2004 SP Authentic) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/JP0AAeSwRJVqTa6a/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Kobe Bryant [Limited] #38 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2004 SP Authentic · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant [Limited] #38 brings $350 versus $120 raw — a $230 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($114) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $120
- Grade 9.5
- $350
- PSA 9
- $114
- Gem premium
- 2.9×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $350 | +$205 | +$180 | +$80.00 |
| PSA 9 | $114 | −$31.09 | −$56.09 | −$156 |
Net = sale price − $120 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% | $173 | +$2.93 |
| 50% | $232 | +$61.95 |
| 75% | $291 | +$121 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 24%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2004 SP Authentic cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![LeBron James [Limited] #14 2004 SP Authentic card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/g7YAAeSwjYdqWAPV/s-l500.jpg)
![Andre Iguodala [Autograph Limited] #179 2004 SP Authentic card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/QYsAAeSwP-hqruAE/s-l500.jpg)
![Dwight Howard [Autograph Limited] #186 2004 SP Authentic card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/hMkAAeSwtkNqJhLf/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Kobe Bryant [Limited] #38 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant [Limited] #38 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant [Limited] #38 brings $350 versus $120 raw — a $230 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($114) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
What gem rate makes grading Kobe Bryant [Limited] #38 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Kobe Bryant [Limited] #38 breaks even when it gems about 24% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $114).
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