Is Michael Jordan #288 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1984 Star · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #288 sells for $98,034 against $225 raw: a $97,810 spread, 437× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($81,695) 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)
- $225
- PSA 10
- $98,034
- PSA 9
- $81,695
- Gem premium
- 437×
- As of
- Nov 1, 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 | $98,034 | +$97,785 | +$97,760 | +$97,660 |
| PSA 9 | $81,695 | +$81,445 | +$81,420 | +$81,320 |
| PSA 8 | $58,709 | +$58,459 | +$58,434 | +$58,334 |
Net = sale price − $225 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% | $85,780 | +$85,505 |
| 50% | $89,864 | +$89,590 |
| 75% | $93,949 | +$93,675 |
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 | $127,444 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $98,034 | −$29,410 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $58,820 | −$68,624 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $39,214 | −$88,230 | 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 #288 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #288 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #288 sells for $98,034 against $225 raw: a $97,810 spread, 437× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($81,695) 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 #288 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #288 (Basketball Cards 1984 Star) sells for about $98,034 versus $225 for a raw near-mint copy — a 437× premium as of Nov 1, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #288?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $127,444, ahead of PSA 10 at $98,034. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #288 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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