Is Kobe Bryant worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Skybox Premium 3D's · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant sells for $3,960 against $738 raw: a $3,222 spread, 5.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,300) 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)
- $738
- PSA 10
- $3,960
- PSA 9
- $3,300
- Gem premium
- 5.4×
- 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 | $3,960 | +$3,197 | +$3,172 | +$3,072 |
| PSA 9 | $3,300 | +$2,537 | +$2,512 | +$2,412 |
| PSA 8 | $2,374 | +$1,611 | +$1,586 | +$1,486 |
Net = sale price − $738 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% | $3,465 | +$2,677 |
| 50% | $3,630 | +$2,842 |
| 75% | $3,795 | +$3,007 |
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 | $5,148 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $3,960 | −$1,188 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,376 | −$2,772 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $2,376 | −$2,772 | 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 Kobe Bryant — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant sells for $3,960 against $738 raw: a $3,222 spread, 5.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,300) 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 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant (Basketball Cards 1998 Skybox Premium 3D's) sells for about $3,960 versus $738 for a raw near-mint copy — a 5.4× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $5,148, ahead of PSA 10 at $3,960. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant 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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