![Yao Ming [Chinese] #146 (Basketball Cards 2002 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/G~kAAeSw9ZVqWpCx/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Yao Ming [Chinese] #146 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2002 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Yao Ming [Chinese] #146 sells for $250 against $37.46 raw: a $213 spread, 6.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($65.21) 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)
- $37.46
- PSA 10
- $250
- PSA 9
- $65.21
- Gem premium
- 6.7×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $250 | +$188 | +$163 | +$62.54 |
| PSA 9 | $65.21 | +$2.75 | −$22.25 | −$122 |
| PSA 8 | $46.00 | −$16.46 | −$41.46 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $37.46 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% | $111 | +$23.95 |
| 50% | $158 | +$70.14 |
| 75% | $204 | +$116 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 12%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $325 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $250 | −$75.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $190 | −$135 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $143 | −$182 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $250 | $190 | $325 | $143 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $82.36 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $65.21 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $46.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2002 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
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Grading Yao Ming [Chinese] #146 — FAQ
Is Yao Ming [Chinese] #146 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Yao Ming [Chinese] #146 sells for $250 against $37.46 raw: a $213 spread, 6.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($65.21) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Yao Ming [Chinese] #146 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Yao Ming [Chinese] #146 (Basketball Cards 2002 Topps Chrome) sells for about $250 versus $37.46 for a raw near-mint copy — a 6.7× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Yao Ming [Chinese] #146?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $325, ahead of PSA 10 at $250. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Yao Ming [Chinese] #146 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
What gem rate makes grading Yao Ming [Chinese] #146 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Yao Ming [Chinese] #146 breaks even when it gems about 12% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $65.21).
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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