Is Michael Jordan #9 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1986 Star Best Of The Best · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan #9 sells for $6,866 against $2,152 raw: a $4,714 spread, 3.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,570) 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)
- $2,152
- Grade 9.5
- $6,866
- PSA 9
- $3,570
- Gem premium
- 3.2×
- 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 | $6,866 | +$4,689 | +$4,664 | +$4,564 |
| PSA 9 | $3,570 | +$1,393 | +$1,368 | +$1,268 |
| PSA 8 | $1,500 | −$677 | −$702 | −$802 |
Net = sale price − $2,152 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% | $4,394 | +$2,192 |
| 50% | $5,218 | +$3,016 |
| 75% | $6,042 | +$3,840 |
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 #9 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #9 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan #9 sells for $6,866 against $2,152 raw: a $4,714 spread, 3.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,570) 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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