![LeBron James [Gold] #9 (Basketball Cards 2003 Upper Deck Phenomenal Beginning) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/B9UAAOSwRq1hVlEM/s-l1600.jpg)
Is LeBron James [Gold] #9 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2003 Upper Deck Phenomenal Beginning · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 12× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 LeBron James [Gold] #9 sells for $460 against $37.36 raw: a $423 spread, 12× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($41.32) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $37.36
- PSA 10
- $460
- PSA 9
- $41.32
- Gem premium
- 12×
- 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 | $460 | +$398 | +$373 | +$273 |
| PSA 9 | $41.32 | −$21.04 | −$46.04 | −$146 |
| PSA 8 | $37.50 | −$24.86 | −$49.86 | −$150 |
Net = sale price − $37.36 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% | $146 | +$58.63 |
| 50% | $251 | +$163 |
| 75% | $355 | +$268 |
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 | $598 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $460 | −$138 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $276 | −$322 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $75.00 | −$523 | 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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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2003 Upper Deck Phenomenal Beginning cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![LeBron James [Gold] #13 2003 Upper Deck Phenomenal Beginning card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IbAAAeSwKkJqrKy~/s-l500.jpg)
![LeBron James [Gold 100] #14 2003 Upper Deck Phenomenal Beginning card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/UaEAAOSwtcdkzsS1/s-l500.jpg)
![LeBron James [Gold Facsimile Autograph] #8 2003 Upper Deck Phenomenal Beginning card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2SsAAeSwajlp0F6i/s-l500.jpg)
Grading LeBron James [Gold] #9 — FAQ
Is LeBron James [Gold] #9 worth grading?
A PSA 10 LeBron James [Gold] #9 sells for $460 against $37.36 raw: a $423 spread, 12× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($41.32) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 LeBron James [Gold] #9 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 LeBron James [Gold] #9 (Basketball Cards 2003 Upper Deck Phenomenal Beginning) sells for about $460 versus $37.36 for a raw near-mint copy — a 12× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for LeBron James [Gold] #9?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $598, ahead of PSA 10 at $460. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does LeBron James [Gold] #9 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 [Gold] #9 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting LeBron James [Gold] #9 breaks even when it gems about 11% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $41.32).
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