Is Kobe Bryant #EL-9 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2017 Panini Essentials Essential Legends · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant #EL-9 sells for $108 against $16.50 raw: a $91.50 spread, 6.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($98.44) 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)
- $16.50
- Grade 9.5
- $108
- PSA 9
- $98.44
- Gem premium
- 6.5×
- 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 9.5 | $108 | +$66.50 | +$41.50 | −$58.50 |
| PSA 9 | $98.44 | +$56.94 | +$31.94 | −$68.06 |
| PSA 8 | $30.35 | −$11.15 | −$36.15 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $16.50 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% | $101 | +$34.33 |
| 50% | $103 | +$36.72 |
| 75% | $106 | +$39.11 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Other 2017 Panini Essentials Essential Legends cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Kobe Bryant #EL-9 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant #EL-9 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant #EL-9 sells for $108 against $16.50 raw: a $91.50 spread, 6.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($98.44) 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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