Is LeBron James #144 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2004 SP Game Used · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 LeBron James #144 sells for $210 against $18.49 raw: a $191 spread, 11× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.00) 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)
- $18.49
- PSA 10
- $210
- PSA 9
- $45.00
- Gem premium
- 11×
- 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 | $210 | +$166 | +$141 | +$41.01 |
| PSA 9 | $45.00 | +$1.51 | −$23.49 | −$123 |
| PSA 8 | $12.00 | −$31.49 | −$56.49 | −$156 |
Net = sale price − $18.49 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% | $86.13 | +$17.64 |
| 50% | $127 | +$58.76 |
| 75% | $168 | +$99.88 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $272 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $210 | −$62.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $126 | −$146 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $126 | −$146 | 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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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 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 LeBron James #144 — FAQ
Is LeBron James #144 worth grading?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #144 sells for $210 against $18.49 raw: a $191 spread, 11× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.00) 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 #144 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #144 (Basketball Cards 2004 SP Game Used) sells for about $210 versus $18.49 for a raw near-mint copy — a 11× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for LeBron James #144?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $272, ahead of PSA 10 at $210. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does LeBron James #144 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.
What gem rate makes grading LeBron James #144 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting LeBron James #144 breaks even when it gems about 14% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $45.00).
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