Is Shaquille O'Neal [Gold] #30 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2004 SP Game Used · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Shaquille O'Neal [Gold] #30 sells for $193 against $100 raw: a $93.00 spread, 1.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($175) 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)
- $100
- Grade 9.5
- $193
- PSA 9
- $175
- Gem premium
- 1.9×
- 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 | $193 | +$68.00 | +$43.00 | −$57.00 |
| PSA 9 | $175 | +$50.00 | +$25.00 | −$75.00 |
Net = sale price − $100 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% | $180 | +$29.50 |
| 50% | $184 | +$34.00 |
| 75% | $189 | +$38.50 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2004 SP Game Used cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![LeBron James [Ltd 1 of 1] #147 2004 SP Game Used card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/3kUAAeSwEHhquKVJ/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Jersey] #71 2004 SP Game Used card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2DcAAeSwYntqqnX3/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Shaquille O'Neal [Gold] #30 — FAQ
Is Shaquille O'Neal [Gold] #30 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Shaquille O'Neal [Gold] #30 sells for $193 against $100 raw: a $93.00 spread, 1.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($175) 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your basketball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
