Is Michael Jordan #18 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1999 Upper Deck MJ Athlete of the Century · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan #18 brings $29.00 versus $2.99 raw — a $26.01 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($26.21) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.99
- Grade 9.5
- $29.00
- PSA 9
- $26.21
- Gem premium
- 9.7×
- 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 | $29.00 | +$1.01 | −$23.99 | −$124 |
| PSA 9 | $26.21 | −$1.78 | −$26.78 | −$127 |
Net = sale price − $2.99 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% | $26.91 | −$26.08 |
| 50% | $27.61 | −$25.38 |
| 75% | $28.30 | −$24.69 |
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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Grading Michael Jordan #18 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #18 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan #18 brings $29.00 versus $2.99 raw — a $26.01 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($26.21) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
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