Is LeBron James #31 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2006 Upper Deck · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 LeBron James #31 sells for $102 against $3.09 raw: a $98.92 spread, 33× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.99) 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)
- $3.09
- PSA 10
- $102
- PSA 9
- $28.99
- Gem premium
- 33×
- 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 | $102 | +$73.92 | +$48.92 | −$51.08 |
| PSA 9 | $28.99 | +$0.90 | −$24.10 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $12.91 | −$15.18 | −$40.18 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $3.09 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% | $47.25 | −$5.84 |
| 50% | $65.50 | +$12.41 |
| 75% | $83.76 | +$30.67 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 33%. 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 | $133 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $102 | −$30.99 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $61.00 | −$72.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $61.00 | −$72.00 | 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 | $102 | $61.00 | $133 | $61.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $32.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $28.99 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $12.91 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $10.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2006 Upper Deck cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading LeBron James #31 — FAQ
Is LeBron James #31 worth grading?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #31 sells for $102 against $3.09 raw: a $98.92 spread, 33× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.99) 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 LeBron James #31 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #31 (Basketball Cards 2006 Upper Deck) sells for about $102 versus $3.09 for a raw near-mint copy — a 33× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for LeBron James #31?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $133, ahead of PSA 10 at $102. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does LeBron James #31 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 LeBron James #31 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting LeBron James #31 breaks even when it gems about 33% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $28.99).
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