Is LeBron James [Gold] #5 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2021 Panini Illusions Amazing · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of LeBron James [Gold] #5 sell for $201, only $0.00 above the $310 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($183) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $310
- Grade 9.5
- $201
- PSA 9
- $183
- Gem premium
- 0.6×
- 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 | $201 | −$134 | −$159 | −$259 |
| PSA 9 | $183 | −$152 | −$177 | −$277 |
Net = sale price − $310 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% | $187 | −$173 |
| 50% | $192 | −$168 |
| 75% | $196 | −$164 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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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 2021 Panini Illusions Amazing cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![LeBron James [Green] #5 2021 Panini Illusions Amazing card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/qZEAAeSwKFtps3nK/s-l500.jpg)
Grading LeBron James [Gold] #5 — FAQ
Is LeBron James [Gold] #5 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of LeBron James [Gold] #5 sell for $201, only $0.00 above the $310 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($183) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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