Is Kobe Bryant #3 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Skybox Z Force Boss · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #3 sells for $1,037 against $87.69 raw: a $949 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($325) 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)
- $87.69
- PSA 10
- $1,037
- PSA 9
- $325
- Gem premium
- 12×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $1,037 | +$924 | +$899 | +$799 |
| PSA 9 | $325 | +$212 | +$187 | +$87.31 |
| PSA 8 | $179 | +$65.81 | +$40.81 | −$59.19 |
Net = sale price − $87.69 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% | $503 | +$365 |
| 50% | $681 | +$543 |
| 75% | $859 | +$721 |
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 | $1,348 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,037 | −$311 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $622 | −$726 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $199 | −$1,149 | 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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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Skybox Z Force Boss cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Shaquille O'Neal [Super Boss] #14 1997 Skybox Z Force Boss card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/72gAAeSwHAVqn5wW/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Kobe Bryant #3 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant #3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #3 sells for $1,037 against $87.69 raw: a $949 spread, 12× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($325) 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 Kobe Bryant #3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #3 (Basketball Cards 1997 Skybox Z Force Boss) sells for about $1,037 versus $87.69 for a raw near-mint copy — a 12× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant #3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,348, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,037. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant #3 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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