Is Michael Jordan [Black Diamond Sample] #23 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Black Diamond Sample · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan [Black Diamond Sample] #23 sells for $110 against $5.50 raw: a $105 spread, 20× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($100) 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)
- $5.50
- Grade 9.5
- $110
- PSA 9
- $100
- Gem premium
- 20×
- As of
- Sep 3, 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 | $110 | +$79.50 | +$54.50 | −$45.50 |
| PSA 9 | $100 | +$69.50 | +$44.50 | −$55.50 |
| PSA 8 | $41.38 | +$10.88 | −$14.12 | −$114 |
Net = sale price − $5.50 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% | $103 | +$47.00 |
| 50% | $105 | +$49.50 |
| 75% | $108 | +$52.00 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Grading Michael Jordan [Black Diamond Sample] #23 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan [Black Diamond Sample] #23 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan [Black Diamond Sample] #23 sells for $110 against $5.50 raw: a $105 spread, 20× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($100) 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.
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