Is Magic Johnson [Gold] #18 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2018 Panini Donruss Optic Winner Stays · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A Grade 7 Magic Johnson [Gold] #18 brings $226 versus $154 raw — a $71.60 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($100) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $154
- Grade 7
- $226
- PSA 9
- $100
- Gem premium
- 1.5×
- 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 — Grade 7 | $226 | +$46.60 | +$21.60 | −$78.40 |
| PSA 9 | $100 | −$78.90 | −$104 | −$204 |
Net = sale price − $154 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% | $131 | −$72.53 |
| 50% | $163 | −$41.15 |
| 75% | $194 | −$9.78 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 83%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2018 Panini Donruss Optic Winner Stays cards worth checking
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Grading Magic Johnson [Gold] #18 — FAQ
Is Magic Johnson [Gold] #18 worth grading?
A Grade 7 Magic Johnson [Gold] #18 brings $226 versus $154 raw — a $71.60 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($100) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
What gem rate makes grading Magic Johnson [Gold] #18 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Magic Johnson [Gold] #18 breaks even when it gems about 83% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $100).
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