Is Kobe Bryant #189 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2002 Fleer · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant #189 sells for $63.00 against $10.50 raw: a $52.50 spread, 6.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($57.71) 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)
- $10.50
- Grade 9.5
- $63.00
- PSA 9
- $57.71
- Gem premium
- 6.0×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $63.00 | +$27.50 | +$2.50 | −$97.50 |
| PSA 9 | $57.71 | +$22.21 | −$2.79 | −$103 |
| PSA 8 | $21.50 | −$14.00 | −$39.00 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $10.50 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% | $59.03 | −$1.47 |
| 50% | $60.36 | −$0.14 |
| 75% | $61.68 | +$1.18 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 53%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $63.00 |
| 9 | $57.71 |
| 8 | $21.50 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2002 Fleer cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Michael Jordan [Crystal] #270 2002 Fleer card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Ea0AAeSwWJJpQqbv/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Kobe Bryant #189 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant #189 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant #189 sells for $63.00 against $10.50 raw: a $52.50 spread, 6.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($57.71) 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.
What gem rate makes grading Kobe Bryant #189 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Kobe Bryant #189 breaks even when it gems about 53% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $57.71).
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.
Check my card free