![Karl Malone [Black Refractor] #120 (Basketball Cards 2001 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/VMIAAOSwmrxmxcgn/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Karl Malone [Black Refractor] #120 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2001 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Karl Malone [Black Refractor] #120 sells for $385 against $168 raw: a $217 spread, 2.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($350) 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)
- $168
- Grade 9.5
- $385
- PSA 9
- $350
- Gem premium
- 2.3×
- 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 | $385 | +$192 | +$167 | +$66.65 |
| PSA 9 | $350 | +$157 | +$132 | +$31.65 |
Net = sale price − $168 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% | $359 | +$140 |
| 50% | $368 | +$149 |
| 75% | $376 | +$158 |
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
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Karl Malone [Black Refractor] #120 — FAQ
Is Karl Malone [Black Refractor] #120 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Karl Malone [Black Refractor] #120 sells for $385 against $168 raw: a $217 spread, 2.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($350) 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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