Is Kobe Bryant #36 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2003 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #36 sells for $133 against $6.67 raw: a $126 spread, 20× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($42.51) 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)
- $6.67
- PSA 10
- $133
- PSA 9
- $42.51
- Gem premium
- 20×
- 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 | $133 | +$101 | +$76.47 | −$23.53 |
| PSA 9 | $42.51 | +$10.84 | −$14.16 | −$114 |
| PSA 8 | $22.75 | −$8.92 | −$33.92 | −$134 |
Net = sale price − $6.67 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% | $65.17 | +$8.50 |
| 50% | $87.82 | +$31.15 |
| 75% | $110 | +$53.81 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 16%. 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 | $173 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $133 | −$39.86 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $80.00 | −$93.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $72.50 | −$101 | 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 | $133 | $80.00 | $173 | $72.50 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $47.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $42.51 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $22.75 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $17.03 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2003 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![LeBron James [Gold] #221 2003 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mRMAAeSwIaBpZxko/s-l500.jpg)
![Dwyane Wade [Gold] #225 2003 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/04QAAeSw3WpqBwPr/s-l500.jpg)
![LeBron James [1st Edition] #221 2003 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mAgAAeSwU7hqUm1i/s-l500.jpg)
![LeBron James [Gold] 2003 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/A7QAAeSwmcNqJMxM/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Kobe Bryant #36 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant #36 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #36 sells for $133 against $6.67 raw: a $126 spread, 20× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($42.51) 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 #36 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #36 (Basketball Cards 2003 Topps) sells for about $133 versus $6.67 for a raw near-mint copy — a 20× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant #36?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $173, ahead of PSA 10 at $133. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant #36 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 #36 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Kobe Bryant #36 breaks even when it gems about 16% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $42.51).
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.
Check my card free