Is Michael Jordan #SQ30 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 UD Choice Starquest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #SQ30 sells for $1,254 against $25.08 raw: a $1,229 spread, 50× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($214) 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)
- $25.08
- PSA 10
- $1,254
- PSA 9
- $214
- Gem premium
- 50×
- 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 | $1,254 | +$1,204 | +$1,179 | +$1,079 |
| PSA 9 | $214 | +$164 | +$139 | +$38.63 |
| PSA 8 | $95.00 | +$44.92 | +$19.92 | −$80.08 |
Net = sale price − $25.08 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% | $474 | +$399 |
| 50% | $734 | +$659 |
| 75% | $994 | +$919 |
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 | $1,631 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,254 | −$377 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $753 | −$878 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $235 | −$1,397 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 UD Choice Starquest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Tim duncan [Red] #SQ24 1998 UD Choice Starquest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/CJcAAeSwvRpqtsBQ/s-l500.jpg)
![Allen Iverson [Red] #SQ20 1998 UD Choice Starquest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xZkAAeSwx8Nqthbv/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Green] #SQ13 1998 UD Choice Starquest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/6jQAAeSwGjJqT~Ae/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Red] #SQ13 1998 UD Choice Starquest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/IyIAAeSwl-1qUukf/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Green] #SQ30 1998 UD Choice Starquest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/6icAAeSwx7pqUwlv/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan #SQ30 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #SQ30 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #SQ30 sells for $1,254 against $25.08 raw: a $1,229 spread, 50× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($214) 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 #SQ30 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #SQ30 (Basketball Cards 1998 UD Choice Starquest) sells for about $1,254 versus $25.08 for a raw near-mint copy — a 50× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #SQ30?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,631, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,254. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #SQ30 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your basketball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
