Is Shaquille O'Neal #221 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2003 Upper Deck Victory · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 7 Shaquille O'Neal #221 sells for $46.00 against $1.74 raw: a $44.26 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($33.00) 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)
- $1.74
- Grade 7
- $46.00
- PSA 9
- $33.00
- Gem premium
- 26×
- 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 — Grade 7 | $46.00 | +$19.26 | −$5.74 | −$106 |
| PSA 9 | $33.00 | +$6.26 | −$18.74 | −$119 |
Net = sale price − $1.74 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% | $36.25 | −$15.49 |
| 50% | $39.50 | −$12.24 |
| 75% | $42.75 | −$8.99 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Shaquille O'Neal #221 — FAQ
Is Shaquille O'Neal #221 worth grading?
A Grade 7 Shaquille O'Neal #221 sells for $46.00 against $1.74 raw: a $44.26 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($33.00) 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.
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