Is Magic Johnson #11 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1985 Star Lite All · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #11 sells for $4,463 against $82.78 raw: a $4,381 spread, 54× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($625) 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)
- $82.78
- PSA 10
- $4,463
- PSA 9
- $625
- Gem premium
- 54×
- 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 | $4,463 | +$4,356 | +$4,331 | +$4,231 |
| PSA 9 | $625 | +$517 | +$492 | +$392 |
| PSA 8 | $210 | +$102 | +$76.97 | −$23.03 |
Net = sale price − $82.78 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% | $1,585 | +$1,452 |
| 50% | $2,544 | +$2,411 |
| 75% | $3,504 | +$3,371 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $5,803 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $4,463 | −$1,340 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,678 | −$3,125 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $2,678 | −$3,125 | 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 1985 Star Lite All cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Magic Johnson #11 — FAQ
Is Magic Johnson #11 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #11 sells for $4,463 against $82.78 raw: a $4,381 spread, 54× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($625) 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 Magic Johnson #11 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #11 (Basketball Cards 1985 Star Lite All) sells for about $4,463 versus $82.78 for a raw near-mint copy — a 54× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Magic Johnson #11?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $5,803, ahead of PSA 10 at $4,463. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Magic Johnson #11 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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