Is Shaquille O'Neal worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Skybox Premium 3D's · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Shaquille O'Neal sells for $985 against $397 raw: a $588 spread, 2.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($895) 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)
- $397
- Grade 9.5
- $985
- PSA 9
- $895
- Gem premium
- 2.5×
- 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 | $985 | +$563 | +$538 | +$438 |
| PSA 9 | $895 | +$473 | +$448 | +$348 |
| PSA 8 | $406 | −$16.35 | −$41.35 | −$141 |
Net = sale price − $397 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% | $918 | +$470 |
| 50% | $940 | +$493 |
| 75% | $963 | +$515 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $985 |
| 9 | $895 |
| 8 | $406 |
| 7 | $198 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 Skybox Premium 3D's cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Shaquille O'Neal — FAQ
Is Shaquille O'Neal worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Shaquille O'Neal sells for $985 against $397 raw: a $588 spread, 2.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($895) 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.
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