Is David Robinson #3 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra Rim Rockers · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 David Robinson #3 sells for $78.00 against $2.80 raw: a $75.20 spread, 28× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($71.00) 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)
- $2.80
- Grade 9.5
- $78.00
- PSA 9
- $71.00
- Gem premium
- 28×
- 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 | $78.00 | +$50.20 | +$25.20 | −$74.80 |
| PSA 9 | $71.00 | +$43.20 | +$18.20 | −$81.80 |
| PSA 8 | $64.99 | +$37.19 | +$12.19 | −$87.81 |
Net = sale price − $2.80 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% | $72.75 | +$19.95 |
| 50% | $74.50 | +$21.70 |
| 75% | $76.25 | +$23.45 |
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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Other 1997 Ultra Rim Rockers cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading David Robinson #3 — FAQ
Is David Robinson #3 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 David Robinson #3 sells for $78.00 against $2.80 raw: a $75.20 spread, 28× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($71.00) 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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