Is Michael Jordan #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1985 Star Team Supers 5×7 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan #1 sells for $7,593 against $860 raw: a $6,733 spread, 8.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($6,903) 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)
- $860
- Grade 9.5
- $7,593
- PSA 9
- $6,903
- Gem premium
- 8.8×
- 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 | $7,593 | +$6,708 | +$6,683 | +$6,583 |
| PSA 9 | $6,903 | +$6,018 | +$5,993 | +$5,893 |
| PSA 8 | $6,275 | +$5,390 | +$5,365 | +$5,265 |
Net = sale price − $860 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% | $7,076 | +$6,166 |
| 50% | $7,248 | +$6,338 |
| 75% | $7,421 | +$6,511 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Grading Michael Jordan #1 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Michael Jordan #1 sells for $7,593 against $860 raw: a $6,733 spread, 8.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($6,903) 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your basketball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
