![Yao Ming [Black Refractor] #11 (Basketball Cards 2004 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/JEcAAeSw~05qKcXf/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Yao Ming [Black Refractor] #11 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2004 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Yao Ming [Black Refractor] #11 sells for $167 against $50.75 raw: a $117 spread, 3.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($103) 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)
- $50.75
- PSA 10
- $167
- PSA 9
- $103
- Gem premium
- 3.3×
- 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 | $167 | +$91.63 | +$66.63 | −$33.37 |
| PSA 9 | $103 | +$27.25 | +$2.25 | −$97.75 |
| PSA 8 | $94.00 | +$18.25 | −$6.75 | −$107 |
Net = sale price − $50.75 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% | $119 | +$18.34 |
| 50% | $135 | +$34.44 |
| 75% | $151 | +$50.53 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $218 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $167 | −$50.62 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $100 | −$118 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $100 | −$118 | 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 | $167 | $100 | $218 | $100 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $113 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $103 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $94.00 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $75.00 |
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)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #8 2004 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/nI4AAeSwZl5qVwYF/s-l500.jpg)
![Dwight Howard [Gold Refractor] #166 2004 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tHYAAeSwIaRplWaU/s-l500.jpg)
![Tim Duncan [Gold Refractor] #50 2004 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/kPgAAeSw~cFpilSs/s-l500.jpg)
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Grading Yao Ming [Black Refractor] #11 — FAQ
Is Yao Ming [Black Refractor] #11 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Yao Ming [Black Refractor] #11 sells for $167 against $50.75 raw: a $117 spread, 3.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($103) 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 Yao Ming [Black Refractor] #11 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Yao Ming [Black Refractor] #11 (Basketball Cards 2004 Topps Chrome) sells for about $167 versus $50.75 for a raw near-mint copy — a 3.3× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Yao Ming [Black Refractor] #11?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $218, ahead of PSA 10 at $167. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Yao Ming [Black Refractor] #11 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.
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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