![Kobe Bryant [Gold Refractor] #8 (Basketball Cards 2004 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PdQAAeSwL1NoqQWb/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Kobe Bryant [Gold Refractor] #8 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2004 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant [Gold Refractor] #8 sells for $14,999 against $2,630 raw: a $12,369 spread, 5.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($4,939) 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)
- $2,630
- Grade 9.5
- $14,999
- PSA 9
- $4,939
- Gem premium
- 5.7×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $14,999 | +$12,344 | +$12,319 | +$12,219 |
| PSA 9 | $4,939 | +$2,284 | +$2,259 | +$2,159 |
| PSA 8 | $1,512 | −$1,143 | −$1,168 | −$1,268 |
Net = sale price − $2,630 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% | $7,454 | +$4,774 |
| 50% | $9,969 | +$7,289 |
| 75% | $12,484 | +$9,804 |
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 →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $14,999 |
| 9 | $4,939 |
| 8 | $1,512 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Kobe Bryant [Gold Refractor] #8 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant [Gold Refractor] #8 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant [Gold Refractor] #8 sells for $14,999 against $2,630 raw: a $12,369 spread, 5.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($4,939) 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.
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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