Is Yao Ming [Classic] #193 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2002 Upper Deck MVP · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Yao Ming [Classic] #193 sells for $40.00 against $4.99 raw: a $35.01 spread, 8.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($36.75) 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)
- $4.99
- Grade 9.5
- $40.00
- PSA 9
- $36.75
- Gem premium
- 8.0×
- 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 | $40.00 | +$10.01 | −$14.99 | −$115 |
| PSA 9 | $36.75 | +$6.76 | −$18.24 | −$118 |
Net = sale price − $4.99 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% | $37.56 | −$17.43 |
| 50% | $38.38 | −$16.62 |
| 75% | $39.19 | −$15.80 |
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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Other 2002 Upper Deck MVP cards worth checking
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Grading Yao Ming [Classic] #193 — FAQ
Is Yao Ming [Classic] #193 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Yao Ming [Classic] #193 sells for $40.00 against $4.99 raw: a $35.01 spread, 8.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($36.75) 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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