Is Magic Johnson #9 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2022 Panini Contenders Optic 1985 Tribute Autograph · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Magic Johnson #9 sells for $176 against $115 raw: a $60.97 spread, 1.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($160) 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)
- $115
- Grade 9.5
- $176
- PSA 9
- $160
- Gem premium
- 1.5×
- 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 | $176 | +$35.97 | +$10.97 | −$89.03 |
| PSA 9 | $160 | +$19.97 | −$5.03 | −$105 |
Net = sale price − $115 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% | $164 | −$1.03 |
| 50% | $168 | +$2.97 |
| 75% | $172 | +$6.97 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 31%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 2022 Panini Contenders Optic 1985 Tribute Autograph cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Magic Johnson #9 — FAQ
Is Magic Johnson #9 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Magic Johnson #9 sells for $176 against $115 raw: a $60.97 spread, 1.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($160) 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.
What gem rate makes grading Magic Johnson #9 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Magic Johnson #9 breaks even when it gems about 31% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $160).
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.
