Is LeBron James #43 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2003 UD Collectibles Freshman Season · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 LeBron James #43 brings $78.91 versus $27.99 raw — a $50.92 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($23.05) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $27.99
- PSA 10
- $78.91
- PSA 9
- $23.05
- Gem premium
- 2.8×
- 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 | $78.91 | +$25.92 | +$0.92 | −$99.08 |
| PSA 9 | $23.05 | −$29.94 | −$54.94 | −$155 |
| PSA 8 | $10.00 | −$42.99 | −$67.99 | −$168 |
Net = sale price − $27.99 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% | $37.02 | −$40.97 |
| 50% | $50.98 | −$27.01 |
| 75% | $64.94 | −$13.05 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 98%. 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 | $103 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $78.91 | −$24.09 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $47.00 | −$56.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $47.00 | −$56.00 | 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 LeBron James #43 — FAQ
Is LeBron James #43 worth grading?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #43 brings $78.91 versus $27.99 raw — a $50.92 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($23.05) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 LeBron James #43 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #43 (Basketball Cards 2003 UD Collectibles Freshman Season) sells for about $78.91 versus $27.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.8× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for LeBron James #43?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $103, ahead of PSA 10 at $78.91. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does LeBron James #43 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 LeBron James #43 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting LeBron James #43 breaks even when it gems about 98% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $23.05).
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