Is NBA Playoffs Game 3 #135 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1971 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 NBA Playoffs Game 3 #135 sells for $198 against $7.50 raw: a $191 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($180) 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)
- $7.50
- Grade 9.5
- $198
- PSA 9
- $180
- Gem premium
- 26×
- 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 | $198 | +$166 | +$141 | +$40.50 |
| PSA 9 | $180 | +$147 | +$122 | +$22.09 |
| PSA 8 | $39.75 | +$7.25 | −$17.75 | −$118 |
Net = sale price − $7.50 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% | $184 | +$127 |
| 50% | $189 | +$131 |
| 75% | $193 | +$136 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Grading NBA Playoffs Game 3 #135 — FAQ
Is NBA Playoffs Game 3 #135 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 NBA Playoffs Game 3 #135 sells for $198 against $7.50 raw: a $191 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($180) 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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