Is Magic Johnson #87 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1994 Skybox USA Basketball · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #87 brings $37.49 versus $1.30 raw — a $36.19 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($11.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.30
- PSA 10
- $37.49
- PSA 9
- $11.00
- Gem premium
- 29×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $37.49 | +$11.19 | −$13.81 | −$114 |
| PSA 9 | $11.00 | −$15.30 | −$40.30 | −$140 |
| PSA 8 | $9.59 | −$16.71 | −$41.71 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $1.30 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% | $17.62 | −$33.68 |
| 50% | $24.25 | −$27.05 |
| 75% | $30.87 | −$20.43 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $49.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $37.49 | −$11.51 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $22.00 | −$27.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $22.00 | −$27.00 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $37.49 | $22.00 | $49.00 | $22.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $31.56 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $11.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $9.59 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other 1994 Skybox USA Basketball cards worth checking
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Grading Magic Johnson #87 — FAQ
Is Magic Johnson #87 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #87 brings $37.49 versus $1.30 raw — a $36.19 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($11.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Magic Johnson #87 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #87 (Basketball Cards 1994 Skybox USA Basketball) sells for about $37.49 versus $1.30 for a raw near-mint copy — a 29× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Magic Johnson #87?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $49.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $37.49. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Magic Johnson #87 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.
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.
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