Is Michael Jordan #39 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1994 Upper Deck Jordan Heroes · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #39 sells for $1,380 against $9.12 raw: a $1,371 spread, 151× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($85.00) 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)
- $9.12
- PSA 10
- $1,380
- PSA 9
- $85.00
- Gem premium
- 151×
- 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 | $1,380 | +$1,346 | +$1,321 | +$1,221 |
| PSA 9 | $85.00 | +$50.88 | +$25.88 | −$74.12 |
| PSA 8 | $44.39 | +$10.27 | −$14.73 | −$115 |
Net = sale price − $9.12 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% | $409 | +$350 |
| 50% | $733 | +$673 |
| 75% | $1,056 | +$997 |
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 | $1,794 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,380 | −$414 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $828 | −$966 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $828 | −$966 | 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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Other 1994 Upper Deck Jordan Heroes cards worth checking
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Grading Michael Jordan #39 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #39 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #39 sells for $1,380 against $9.12 raw: a $1,371 spread, 151× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($85.00) 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 Michael Jordan #39 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #39 (Basketball Cards 1994 Upper Deck Jordan Heroes) sells for about $1,380 versus $9.12 for a raw near-mint copy — a 151× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #39?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,794, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,380. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #39 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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