Is Kobe Bryant worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2003 Topps Rookie Matrix · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant sells for $77.35 against $7.63 raw: a $69.72 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.20) 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)
- $7.63
- PSA 10
- $77.35
- PSA 9
- $37.20
- Gem premium
- 10×
- 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 | $77.35 | +$44.72 | +$19.72 | −$80.28 |
| PSA 9 | $37.20 | +$4.57 | −$20.43 | −$120 |
| PSA 8 | $33.41 | +$0.78 | −$24.22 | −$124 |
Net = sale price − $7.63 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% | $47.24 | −$10.39 |
| 50% | $57.27 | −$0.36 |
| 75% | $67.31 | +$9.68 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 51%. 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 | $101 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $77.35 | −$23.65 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $46.00 | −$55.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $46.00 | −$55.00 | 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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Grading Kobe Bryant — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant sells for $77.35 against $7.63 raw: a $69.72 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.20) 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 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant (Basketball Cards 2003 Topps Rookie Matrix) sells for about $77.35 versus $7.63 for a raw near-mint copy — a 10× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $101, ahead of PSA 10 at $77.35. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant 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 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Kobe Bryant breaks even when it gems about 51% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $37.20).
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