Is Shaquille O'Neal #8 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1995 Metal Maximum · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A Grade 9.5 Shaquille O'Neal #8 brings $167 versus $58.39 raw — a $109 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($70.88) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $58.39
- Grade 9.5
- $167
- PSA 9
- $70.88
- Gem premium
- 2.9×
- 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 | $167 | +$83.51 | +$58.51 | −$41.49 |
| PSA 9 | $70.88 | −$12.51 | −$37.51 | −$138 |
| PSA 8 | $62.50 | −$20.89 | −$45.89 | −$146 |
Net = sale price − $58.39 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% | $94.88 | −$13.51 |
| 50% | $119 | +$10.50 |
| 75% | $143 | +$34.51 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 39%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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Other 1995 Metal Maximum cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Shaquille O'Neal #8 — FAQ
Is Shaquille O'Neal #8 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Shaquille O'Neal #8 brings $167 versus $58.39 raw — a $109 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($70.88) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
What gem rate makes grading Shaquille O'Neal #8 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Shaquille O'Neal #8 breaks even when it gems about 39% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $70.88).
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