![Mike Sweetney [Gold Refractor] #186 (Basketball Cards 2002 Finest) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ktoAAOSw88BlyUoX/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Mike Sweetney [Gold Refractor] #186 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2002 Finest · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Mike Sweetney [Gold Refractor] #186 sell for $86.00, only $0.00 above the $158 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($78.00) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $158
- Grade 9.5
- $86.00
- PSA 9
- $78.00
- Gem premium
- 0.5×
- As of
- Sep 3, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $86.00 | −$96.50 | −$122 | −$222 |
| PSA 9 | $78.00 | −$105 | −$130 | −$230 |
Net = sale price − $158 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% | $80.00 | −$128 |
| 50% | $82.00 | −$126 |
| 75% | $84.00 | −$124 |
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 Mike Sweetney [Gold Refractor] #186 — FAQ
Is Mike Sweetney [Gold Refractor] #186 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Mike Sweetney [Gold Refractor] #186 sell for $86.00, only $0.00 above the $158 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($78.00) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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