Is LaPhonso Ellis ##1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1993 Ultra All-Rookie Team · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 LaPhonso Ellis ##1 sells for $32.00 against $1.79 raw: a $30.21 spread, 18× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.88) 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)
- $1.79
- Grade 9.5
- $32.00
- PSA 9
- $28.88
- Gem premium
- 18×
- 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 9.5 | $32.00 | +$5.21 | −$19.79 | −$120 |
| PSA 9 | $28.88 | +$2.09 | −$22.91 | −$123 |
Net = sale price − $1.79 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% | $29.66 | −$22.13 |
| 50% | $30.44 | −$21.35 |
| 75% | $31.22 | −$20.57 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading LaPhonso Ellis ##1 — FAQ
Is LaPhonso Ellis ##1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 LaPhonso Ellis ##1 sells for $32.00 against $1.79 raw: a $30.21 spread, 18× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.88) 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.
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