![Michael Jordan [Aqua] #001 (Basketball Cards 2023 SkyBox Metal Universe Champions) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/GJ8AAeSw5-9qBpNw/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Michael Jordan [Aqua] #001 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2023 SkyBox Metal Universe Champions · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Aqua] #001 sells for $700 against $11.99 raw: a $688 spread, 58× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($99.99) 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)
- $11.99
- PSA 10
- $700
- PSA 9
- $99.99
- Gem premium
- 58×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $700 | +$663 | +$638 | +$538 |
| PSA 9 | $99.99 | +$63.00 | +$38.00 | −$62.00 |
| PSA 8 | $18.00 | −$18.99 | −$43.99 | −$144 |
Net = sale price − $11.99 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% | $250 | +$188 |
| 50% | $400 | +$338 |
| 75% | $550 | +$488 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $910 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $700 | −$210 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $420 | −$490 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $420 | −$490 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
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Grading Michael Jordan [Aqua] #001 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan [Aqua] #001 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Aqua] #001 sells for $700 against $11.99 raw: a $688 spread, 58× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($99.99) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Aqua] #001 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Aqua] #001 (Basketball Cards 2023 SkyBox Metal Universe Champions) sells for about $700 versus $11.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 58× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan [Aqua] #001?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $910, ahead of PSA 10 at $700. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan [Aqua] #001 need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
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