Is Michael Jordan #4 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1996 Ultra Starring Role · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #4 sells for $14,029 against $1,000 raw: a $13,029 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,303) 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)
- $1,000
- PSA 10
- $14,029
- PSA 9
- $3,303
- Gem premium
- 14×
- As of
- Sep 27, 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 | $14,029 | +$13,004 | +$12,979 | +$12,879 |
| PSA 9 | $3,303 | +$2,278 | +$2,253 | +$2,153 |
| PSA 8 | $1,070 | +$45.20 | +$20.20 | −$79.80 |
Net = sale price − $1,000 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% | $5,984 | +$4,934 |
| 50% | $8,666 | +$7,616 |
| 75% | $11,347 | +$10,297 |
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 | $18,238 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $14,029 | −$4,209 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $8,417 | −$9,821 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $8,417 | −$9,821 | 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.
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Grading Michael Jordan #4 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #4 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #4 sells for $14,029 against $1,000 raw: a $13,029 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,303) 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 #4 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #4 (Basketball Cards 1996 Ultra Starring Role) sells for about $14,029 versus $1,000 for a raw near-mint copy — a 14× premium as of Sep 27, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #4?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $18,238, ahead of PSA 10 at $14,029. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #4 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.
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