![LeBron James [Black & White] #1 (Basketball Cards 2003 Upper Deck Rookie Exclusives) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/zVUAAeSwHzlqmq1-/s-l1600.jpg)
Is LeBron James [Black & White] #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2003 Upper Deck Rookie Exclusives · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 LeBron James [Black & White] #1 sells for $1,840 against $180 raw: a $1,660 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($355) 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)
- $180
- PSA 10
- $1,840
- PSA 9
- $355
- 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 | $1,840 | +$1,635 | +$1,610 | +$1,510 |
| PSA 9 | $355 | +$150 | +$125 | +$25.36 |
| PSA 8 | $158 | −$46.78 | −$71.78 | −$172 |
Net = sale price − $180 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% | $726 | +$497 |
| 50% | $1,097 | +$868 |
| 75% | $1,469 | +$1,239 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $2,392 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,840 | −$552 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $1,104 | −$1,288 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $1,104 | −$1,288 | 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 Rookie Exclusives cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![LeBron James [Autograph] #A1 2003 Upper Deck Rookie Exclusives card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/WakAAeSwqAlozro1/s-l500.jpg)
![LeBron James [Gold] #1 2003 Upper Deck Rookie Exclusives card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/q6IAAeSwNFdp~SYO/s-l500.jpg)
![LeBron James [Jersey] #J1 2003 Upper Deck Rookie Exclusives card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/UcgAAeSw8Ghp2~C-/s-l500.jpg)
Grading LeBron James [Black & White] #1 — FAQ
Is LeBron James [Black & White] #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 LeBron James [Black & White] #1 sells for $1,840 against $180 raw: a $1,660 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($355) 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 [Black & White] #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 LeBron James [Black & White] #1 (Basketball Cards 2003 Upper Deck Rookie Exclusives) sells for about $1,840 versus $180 for a raw near-mint copy — a 10× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for LeBron James [Black & White] #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,392, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,840. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does LeBron James [Black & White] #1 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.
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