![Shaquille O'Neal [Black Refractor] #1 (Basketball Cards 2002 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tx0AAeSw3mlqWjTz/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Shaquille O'Neal [Black Refractor] #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2002 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Shaquille O'Neal [Black Refractor] #1 sells for $697 against $424 raw: a $273 spread, 1.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($634) 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)
- $424
- Grade 9.5
- $697
- PSA 9
- $634
- Gem premium
- 1.6×
- 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 | $697 | +$248 | +$223 | +$123 |
| PSA 9 | $634 | +$185 | +$160 | +$59.72 |
| PSA 8 | $576 | +$127 | +$102 | +$1.72 |
Net = sale price − $424 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% | $650 | +$175 |
| 50% | $666 | +$191 |
| 75% | $681 | +$207 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
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Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Shaquille O'Neal [Black Refractor] #1 — FAQ
Is Shaquille O'Neal [Black Refractor] #1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Shaquille O'Neal [Black Refractor] #1 sells for $697 against $424 raw: a $273 spread, 1.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($634) 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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