Is Kobe Bryant #8 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2004 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #8 sells for $235 against $18.69 raw: a $216 spread, 13× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.97) 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)
- $18.69
- PSA 10
- $235
- PSA 9
- $59.97
- Gem premium
- 13×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $235 | +$191 | +$166 | +$66.21 |
| PSA 9 | $59.97 | +$16.28 | −$8.72 | −$109 |
| PSA 8 | $28.53 | −$15.16 | −$40.16 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $18.69 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% | $104 | +$35.01 |
| 50% | $147 | +$78.75 |
| 75% | $191 | +$122 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 5%. 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 | $305 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $235 | −$70.10 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $141 | −$164 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $130 | −$176 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $235 | $141 | $305 | $130 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $66.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $59.97 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $28.53 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $19.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2004 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Carmelo Anthony [Gold Refractor] #15 2004 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ksgAAeSw0iNqS~7-/s-l500.jpg)
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![Dwight Howard [Gold Refractor] #166 2004 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tHYAAeSwIaRplWaU/s-l500.jpg)
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Grading Kobe Bryant #8 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant #8 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #8 sells for $235 against $18.69 raw: a $216 spread, 13× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.97) 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 #8 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #8 (Basketball Cards 2004 Topps Chrome) sells for about $235 versus $18.69 for a raw near-mint copy — a 13× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant #8?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $305, ahead of PSA 10 at $235. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant #8 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 Kobe Bryant #8 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Kobe Bryant #8 breaks even when it gems about 5% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $59.97).
Is your basketball card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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