Is Kobe Bryant #3 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe Planet Metal · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #3 sells for $12,358 against $906 raw: a $11,452 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,410) 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)
- $906
- PSA 10
- $12,358
- PSA 9
- $2,410
- Gem premium
- 14×
- 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 | $12,358 | +$11,427 | +$11,402 | +$11,302 |
| PSA 9 | $2,410 | +$1,478 | +$1,453 | +$1,353 |
| PSA 8 | $2,162 | +$1,230 | +$1,205 | +$1,105 |
Net = sale price − $906 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% | $4,897 | +$3,940 |
| 50% | $7,384 | +$6,427 |
| 75% | $9,871 | +$8,915 |
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 | $16,065 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $12,358 | −$3,707 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $7,415 | −$8,650 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $7,415 | −$8,650 | 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 Kobe Bryant #3 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant #3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #3 sells for $12,358 against $906 raw: a $11,452 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,410) 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 Kobe Bryant #3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #3 (Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe Planet Metal) sells for about $12,358 versus $906 for a raw near-mint copy — a 14× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant #3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $16,065, ahead of PSA 10 at $12,358. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant #3 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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