Is Hakeem Olajuwon #3 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Skybox Thunder · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A Grade 9.5 Hakeem Olajuwon #3 brings $27.00 versus $0.92 raw — a $26.08 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($24.79) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.92
- Grade 9.5
- $27.00
- PSA 9
- $24.79
- Gem premium
- 29×
- 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 | $27.00 | +$1.08 | −$23.92 | −$124 |
| PSA 9 | $24.79 | −$1.13 | −$26.13 | −$126 |
| PSA 8 | $8.50 | −$17.42 | −$42.42 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $0.92 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% | $25.34 | −$25.58 |
| 50% | $25.89 | −$25.03 |
| 75% | $26.45 | −$24.47 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Hakeem Olajuwon #3 — FAQ
Is Hakeem Olajuwon #3 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Hakeem Olajuwon #3 brings $27.00 versus $0.92 raw — a $26.08 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($24.79) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
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