Is Yao Ming #65 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2004 eTopps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Yao Ming #65 sells for $61.00 against $24.95 raw: a $36.05 spread, 2.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($55.40) 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)
- $24.95
- Grade 9.5
- $61.00
- PSA 9
- $55.40
- Gem premium
- 2.4×
- 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 | $61.00 | +$11.05 | −$13.95 | −$114 |
| PSA 9 | $55.40 | +$5.45 | −$19.55 | −$120 |
Net = sale price − $24.95 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% | $56.80 | −$18.15 |
| 50% | $58.20 | −$16.75 |
| 75% | $59.60 | −$15.35 |
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 Yao Ming #65 — FAQ
Is Yao Ming #65 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Yao Ming #65 sells for $61.00 against $24.95 raw: a $36.05 spread, 2.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($55.40) 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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