Is Paul Pierce #3 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Ovation · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Paul Pierce #3 sells for $75.59 against $6.13 raw: a $69.46 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.30) 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)
- $6.13
- PSA 10
- $75.59
- PSA 9
- $31.30
- Gem premium
- 12×
- 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 | $75.59 | +$44.46 | +$19.46 | −$80.54 |
| PSA 9 | $31.30 | +$0.17 | −$24.83 | −$125 |
| PSA 8 | $16.03 | −$15.10 | −$40.10 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $6.13 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% | $42.37 | −$13.76 |
| 50% | $53.45 | −$2.69 |
| 75% | $64.52 | +$8.39 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 56%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $98.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $75.59 | −$22.41 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $45.00 | −$53.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $45.00 | −$53.00 | 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 | $75.59 | $45.00 | $98.00 | $45.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $39.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $31.30 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $16.03 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 Upper Deck Ovation cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Vince Carter [Gold] #75 1998 Upper Deck Ovation card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/dxoAAeSwjpBovdZW/s-l500.jpg)
![Paul Pierce [Gold] #80 1998 Upper Deck Ovation card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/pgcAAeSwo41pwEts/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Paul Pierce #3 — FAQ
Is Paul Pierce #3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Paul Pierce #3 sells for $75.59 against $6.13 raw: a $69.46 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.30) 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 Paul Pierce #3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Paul Pierce #3 (Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Ovation) sells for about $75.59 versus $6.13 for a raw near-mint copy — a 12× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Paul Pierce #3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $98.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $75.59. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Paul Pierce #3 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.
What gem rate makes grading Paul Pierce #3 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Paul Pierce #3 breaks even when it gems about 56% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $31.30).
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