![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 $217 against $60.50 raw: a $157 spread, 3.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($197) 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)
- $60.50
- Grade 9.5
- $217
- PSA 9
- $197
- Gem premium
- 3.6×
- 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 9.5 | $217 | +$132 | +$107 | +$6.50 |
| PSA 9 | $197 | +$112 | +$86.96 | −$13.04 |
| PSA 8 | $39.95 | −$45.55 | −$70.55 | −$171 |
Net = sale price − $60.50 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% | $202 | +$91.84 |
| 50% | $207 | +$96.73 |
| 75% | $212 | +$102 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other 2002 SP Authentic cards worth checking
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![Emanuel Ginobili [Autograph-Limited] #172 2002 SP Authentic card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PgEAAOSwXxBmBccG/s-l500.jpg)
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 $217 against $60.50 raw: a $157 spread, 3.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($197) 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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