Is Michael Jordan #420 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2002 Upper Deck · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 12× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #420 sells for $243 against $21.01 raw: a $222 spread, 12× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($36.94) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $21.01
- PSA 10
- $243
- PSA 9
- $36.94
- Gem premium
- 12×
- 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 | $243 | +$197 | +$172 | +$71.93 |
| PSA 9 | $36.94 | −$9.07 | −$34.07 | −$134 |
| PSA 8 | $6.90 | −$39.11 | −$64.11 | −$164 |
Net = sale price − $21.01 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% | $88.44 | +$17.43 |
| 50% | $140 | +$68.93 |
| 75% | $191 | +$120 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 17%. 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 | $316 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $243 | −$73.06 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $146 | −$170 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $146 | −$170 | 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 | $243 | $146 | $316 | $146 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $112 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $36.94 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $6.90 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2002 Upper Deck cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Michael Jordan [UD Exclusives] #180 2002 Upper Deck card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/wpEAAeSw5YJqSUL~/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan #420 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #420 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #420 sells for $243 against $21.01 raw: a $222 spread, 12× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($36.94) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Michael Jordan #420 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #420 (Basketball Cards 2002 Upper Deck) sells for about $243 versus $21.01 for a raw near-mint copy — a 12× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #420?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $316, ahead of PSA 10 at $243. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #420 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 Michael Jordan #420 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan #420 breaks even when it gems about 17% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $36.94).
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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