Is Ray Allen #KS8 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Kick Start · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Ray Allen #KS8 brings $40.76 versus $2.76 raw — a $38.00 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($14.99) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.76
- PSA 10
- $40.76
- PSA 9
- $14.99
- Gem premium
- 15×
- 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 | $40.76 | +$13.00 | −$12.00 | −$112 |
| PSA 9 | $14.99 | −$12.77 | −$37.77 | −$138 |
| PSA 8 | $0.99 | −$26.77 | −$51.77 | −$152 |
Net = sale price − $2.76 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% | $21.43 | −$31.33 |
| 50% | $27.88 | −$24.88 |
| 75% | $34.32 | −$18.44 |
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 | $53.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $40.76 | −$12.24 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $24.00 | −$29.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $24.00 | −$29.00 | 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 | $40.76 | $24.00 | $53.00 | $24.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $16.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $14.99 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $0.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other 1998 Topps Kick Start cards worth checking
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Grading Ray Allen #KS8 — FAQ
Is Ray Allen #KS8 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ray Allen #KS8 brings $40.76 versus $2.76 raw — a $38.00 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($14.99) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Ray Allen #KS8 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ray Allen #KS8 (Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Kick Start) sells for about $40.76 versus $2.76 for a raw near-mint copy — a 15× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ray Allen #KS8?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $53.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $40.76. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ray Allen #KS8 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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