Is Kevin Garnett #NW16 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Next Wave · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Kevin Garnett #NW16 sell for $9.00, only $7.10 above the $1.90 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($8.21) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.90
- Grade 9.5
- $9.00
- PSA 9
- $8.21
- Gem premium
- 4.7×
- 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 | $9.00 | −$17.90 | −$42.90 | −$143 |
| PSA 9 | $8.21 | −$18.69 | −$43.69 | −$144 |
Net = sale price − $1.90 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% | $8.41 | −$43.49 |
| 50% | $8.61 | −$43.30 |
| 75% | $8.80 | −$43.10 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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.
Other 1998 Upper Deck Next Wave cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Tracy McGrady [Quantum Bronze] #NW26 1998 Upper Deck Next Wave card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~c8AAOSwPUJl1gQl/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Quantum Bronze] #NW1 1998 Upper Deck Next Wave card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fJMAAeSwrsFqb9IW/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Kevin Garnett #NW16 — FAQ
Is Kevin Garnett #NW16 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Kevin Garnett #NW16 sell for $9.00, only $7.10 above the $1.90 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($8.21) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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