Is Tim Duncan #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Collector's Edge · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Tim Duncan #1 sells for $182 against $1.85 raw: a $180 spread, 98× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($165) 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)
- $1.85
- Grade 9.5
- $182
- PSA 9
- $165
- Gem premium
- 98×
- As of
- Sep 3, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $182 | +$155 | +$130 | +$30.15 |
| PSA 9 | $165 | +$138 | +$113 | +$13.15 |
| PSA 8 | $150 | +$123 | +$98.15 | −$1.85 |
Net = sale price − $1.85 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% | $169 | +$117 |
| 50% | $174 | +$122 |
| 75% | $178 | +$126 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Grading Tim Duncan #1 — FAQ
Is Tim Duncan #1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Tim Duncan #1 sells for $182 against $1.85 raw: a $180 spread, 98× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($165) 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.
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.
