![Shaquille O'Neal [Limited] #38 (Basketball Cards 2002 SP Authentic) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/vm0AAOSwf~lkgSTL/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Shaquille O'Neal [Limited] #38 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2002 SP Authentic · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Shaquille O'Neal [Limited] #38 sells for $88.00 against $43.76 raw: a $44.24 spread, 2.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($80.00) 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)
- $43.76
- Grade 9.5
- $88.00
- PSA 9
- $80.00
- Gem premium
- 2.0×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $88.00 | +$19.24 | −$5.76 | −$106 |
| PSA 9 | $80.00 | +$11.24 | −$13.76 | −$114 |
| PSA 8 | $39.95 | −$28.81 | −$53.81 | −$154 |
Net = sale price − $43.76 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% | $82.00 | −$11.76 |
| 50% | $84.00 | −$9.76 |
| 75% | $86.00 | −$7.76 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $88.00 |
| 9 | $80.00 |
| 8 | $39.95 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Shaquille O'Neal [Limited] #38 — FAQ
Is Shaquille O'Neal [Limited] #38 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Shaquille O'Neal [Limited] #38 sells for $88.00 against $43.76 raw: a $44.24 spread, 2.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($80.00) 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.
Is your basketball card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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