Is LeBron James #2 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2021 Panini Donruss Optic T Minus 3 2 1 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 LeBron James #2 sells for $43.03 against $1.25 raw: a $41.78 spread, 34× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.00) 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)
- $1.25
- PSA 10
- $43.03
- PSA 9
- $30.00
- Gem premium
- 34×
- 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 | $43.03 | +$16.78 | −$8.22 | −$108 |
| PSA 9 | $30.00 | +$3.75 | −$21.25 | −$121 |
| PSA 8 | $0.99 | −$25.26 | −$50.26 | −$150 |
Net = sale price − $1.25 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% | $33.26 | −$17.99 |
| 50% | $36.52 | −$14.73 |
| 75% | $39.77 | −$11.48 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $56.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $43.03 | −$12.97 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $26.00 | −$30.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $24.99 | −$31.01 | 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 2021 Panini Donruss Optic T Minus 3 2 1 cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading LeBron James #2 — FAQ
Is LeBron James #2 worth grading?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #2 sells for $43.03 against $1.25 raw: a $41.78 spread, 34× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.00) 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 LeBron James #2 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #2 (Basketball Cards 2021 Panini Donruss Optic T Minus 3 2 1) sells for about $43.03 versus $1.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 34× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for LeBron James #2?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $56.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $43.03. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does LeBron James #2 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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