Is Kobe Bryant #38 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2001 Upper Deck Ovation · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #38 sells for $137 against $8.50 raw: a $129 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($33.53) 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)
- $8.50
- PSA 10
- $137
- PSA 9
- $33.53
- Gem premium
- 16×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $137 | +$104 | +$78.87 | −$21.13 |
| PSA 9 | $33.53 | +$0.03 | −$24.97 | −$125 |
| PSA 8 | $20.75 | −$12.75 | −$37.75 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $8.50 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% | $59.49 | +$0.99 |
| 50% | $85.45 | +$26.95 |
| 75% | $111 | +$52.91 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 24%. 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 | $179 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $137 | −$41.63 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $82.00 | −$97.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $82.00 | −$97.00 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2001 Upper Deck Ovation cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Kobe Bryant #38 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant #38 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #38 sells for $137 against $8.50 raw: a $129 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($33.53) 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 Kobe Bryant #38 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #38 (Basketball Cards 2001 Upper Deck Ovation) sells for about $137 versus $8.50 for a raw near-mint copy — a 16× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant #38?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $179, ahead of PSA 10 at $137. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant #38 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 Kobe Bryant #38 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Kobe Bryant #38 breaks even when it gems about 24% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $33.53).
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your basketball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
