Is Michael Jordan worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Skybox Premium 3D's · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan sells for $15,593 against $619 raw: a $14,974 spread, 25× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($6,703) 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)
- $619
- PSA 10
- $15,593
- PSA 9
- $6,703
- Gem premium
- 25×
- 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 | $15,593 | +$14,949 | +$14,924 | +$14,824 |
| PSA 9 | $6,703 | +$6,060 | +$6,035 | +$5,935 |
| PSA 8 | $5,600 | +$4,957 | +$4,932 | +$4,832 |
Net = sale price − $619 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% | $8,926 | +$8,257 |
| 50% | $11,148 | +$10,479 |
| 75% | $13,370 | +$12,702 |
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 | $20,270 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $15,593 | −$4,677 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $9,356 | −$10,914 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $9,356 | −$10,914 | 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 Michael Jordan — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan sells for $15,593 against $619 raw: a $14,974 spread, 25× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($6,703) 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 Michael Jordan worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan (Basketball Cards 1998 Skybox Premium 3D's) sells for about $15,593 versus $619 for a raw near-mint copy — a 25× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $20,270, ahead of PSA 10 at $15,593. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan 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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