Is Lew Alcindor worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1969 Topps Rulers · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lew Alcindor sells for $47,545 against $354 raw: a $47,191 spread, 134× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($12,980) 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)
- $354
- PSA 10
- $47,545
- PSA 9
- $12,980
- Gem premium
- 134×
- 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 | $47,545 | +$47,166 | +$47,141 | +$47,041 |
| PSA 9 | $12,980 | +$12,601 | +$12,576 | +$12,476 |
| PSA 8 | $4,983 | +$4,604 | +$4,579 | +$4,479 |
Net = sale price − $354 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% | $21,621 | +$21,218 |
| 50% | $30,263 | +$29,859 |
| 75% | $38,904 | +$38,500 |
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 | $61,808 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $47,545 | −$14,263 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $28,527 | −$33,281 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $28,527 | −$33,281 | 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 Lew Alcindor — FAQ
Is Lew Alcindor worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lew Alcindor sells for $47,545 against $354 raw: a $47,191 spread, 134× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($12,980) 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 Lew Alcindor worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lew Alcindor (Basketball Cards 1969 Topps Rulers) sells for about $47,545 versus $354 for a raw near-mint copy — a 134× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lew Alcindor?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $61,808, ahead of PSA 10 at $47,545. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lew Alcindor 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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