Is Yao Ming #43 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2003 Fleer E-X · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Yao Ming #43 sells for $59.00 against $2.25 raw: a $56.75 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.00) 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)
- $2.25
- Grade 9.5
- $59.00
- PSA 9
- $54.00
- Gem premium
- 26×
- 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 | $59.00 | +$31.75 | +$6.75 | −$93.25 |
| PSA 9 | $54.00 | +$26.75 | +$1.75 | −$98.25 |
| PSA 8 | $21.50 | −$5.75 | −$30.75 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $2.25 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% | $55.25 | +$3.00 |
| 50% | $56.50 | +$4.25 |
| 75% | $57.75 | +$5.50 |
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 2003 Fleer E-X cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![LeBron James [Now] #102 2003 Fleer E-X card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/O0EAAeSwWEBqY9so/s-l500.jpg)
![Dwyane Wade [Now] #90 2003 Fleer E-X card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/pZYAAOSwwUhgOHSK/s-l500.jpg)
![Shaquille O'Neal [Now] #48 2003 Fleer E-X card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/CtIAAeSwz2tqRxMa/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Yao Ming #43 — FAQ
Is Yao Ming #43 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Yao Ming #43 sells for $59.00 against $2.25 raw: a $56.75 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.00) 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.
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.
