Is LeBron James #5 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2003 Upper Deck Box Set · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 LeBron James #5 sells for $182 against $9.79 raw: a $172 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.00) 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)
- $9.79
- PSA 10
- $182
- PSA 9
- $45.00
- Gem premium
- 19×
- 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 | $182 | +$147 | +$122 | +$22.20 |
| PSA 9 | $45.00 | +$10.21 | −$14.79 | −$115 |
| PSA 8 | $26.00 | −$8.79 | −$33.79 | −$134 |
Net = sale price − $9.79 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% | $79.25 | +$19.46 |
| 50% | $113 | +$53.71 |
| 75% | $148 | +$87.95 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 11%. 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 | $237 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $182 | −$55.01 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $109 | −$128 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $21.50 | −$216 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2003 Upper Deck Box Set cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading LeBron James #5 — FAQ
Is LeBron James #5 worth grading?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #5 sells for $182 against $9.79 raw: a $172 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.00) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 LeBron James #5 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #5 (Basketball Cards 2003 Upper Deck Box Set) sells for about $182 versus $9.79 for a raw near-mint copy — a 19× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for LeBron James #5?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $237, ahead of PSA 10 at $182. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does LeBron James #5 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 #5 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting LeBron James #5 breaks even when it gems about 11% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $45.00).
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.
