Is Derek Harper #4 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Derek Harper #4 sells for $757 against $1.25 raw: a $755 spread, 605× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.99) 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)
- $1.25
- PSA 10
- $757
- PSA 9
- $39.99
- Gem premium
- 605×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $757 | +$730 | +$705 | +$605 |
| PSA 9 | $39.99 | +$13.74 | −$11.26 | −$111 |
| PSA 8 | $29.61 | +$3.36 | −$21.64 | −$122 |
Net = sale price − $1.25 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% | $219 | +$168 |
| 50% | $398 | +$347 |
| 75% | $577 | +$526 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 2%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $984 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $757 | −$227 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $454 | −$530 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $454 | −$530 | 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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Grading Derek Harper #4 — FAQ
Is Derek Harper #4 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Derek Harper #4 sells for $757 against $1.25 raw: a $755 spread, 605× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.99) 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 Derek Harper #4 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Derek Harper #4 (Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe) sells for about $757 versus $1.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 605× premium as of Sep 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Derek Harper #4?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $984, ahead of PSA 10 at $757. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Derek Harper #4 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.
What gem rate makes grading Derek Harper #4 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Derek Harper #4 breaks even when it gems about 2% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $39.99).
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