Is Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1999 Skybox Apex Allies · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal #1 sells for $187 against $57.65 raw: a $129 spread, 3.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($170) 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)
- $57.65
- Grade 9.5
- $187
- PSA 9
- $170
- 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 | $187 | +$104 | +$79.35 | −$20.65 |
| PSA 9 | $170 | +$87.35 | +$62.35 | −$37.65 |
| PSA 8 | $151 | +$67.86 | +$42.86 | −$57.14 |
Net = sale price − $57.65 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% | $174 | +$66.60 |
| 50% | $179 | +$70.85 |
| 75% | $183 | +$75.10 |
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.
Other 1999 Skybox Apex Allies cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal #1 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal #1 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal #1 sells for $187 against $57.65 raw: a $129 spread, 3.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($170) 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.
