Is Wilt Chamberlain worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1972 Icee Bear · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Wilt Chamberlain sells for $21,035 against $177 raw: a $20,857 spread, 119× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($701) 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)
- $177
- PSA 10
- $21,035
- PSA 9
- $701
- Gem premium
- 119×
- 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 | $21,035 | +$20,832 | +$20,807 | +$20,707 |
| PSA 9 | $701 | +$499 | +$474 | +$374 |
| PSA 8 | $242 | +$39.90 | +$14.90 | −$85.10 |
Net = sale price − $177 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% | $5,784 | +$5,557 |
| 50% | $10,868 | +$10,641 |
| 75% | $15,951 | +$15,724 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $27,345 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $21,035 | −$6,310 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $12,621 | −$14,724 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $12,621 | −$14,724 | 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.
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Grading Wilt Chamberlain — FAQ
Is Wilt Chamberlain worth grading?
A PSA 10 Wilt Chamberlain sells for $21,035 against $177 raw: a $20,857 spread, 119× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($701) 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 Wilt Chamberlain worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Wilt Chamberlain (Basketball Cards 1972 Icee Bear) sells for about $21,035 versus $177 for a raw near-mint copy — a 119× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Wilt Chamberlain?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $27,345, ahead of PSA 10 at $21,035. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Wilt Chamberlain 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.
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