Is LeBron James #3 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2023 Panini Phoenix Fade To Black · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 21× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 LeBron James #3 sells for $42.26 against $1.99 raw: a $40.27 spread, 21× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($20.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.99
- PSA 10
- $42.26
- PSA 9
- $20.50
- Gem premium
- 21×
- 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 | $42.26 | +$15.27 | −$9.73 | −$110 |
| PSA 9 | $20.50 | −$6.49 | −$31.49 | −$131 |
| PSA 8 | $6.68 | −$20.31 | −$45.31 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $1.99 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% | $25.94 | −$26.05 |
| 50% | $31.38 | −$20.61 |
| 75% | $36.82 | −$15.17 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $55.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $42.26 | −$12.74 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $25.00 | −$30.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $25.00 | −$30.00 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2023 Panini Phoenix Fade To Black cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Victor Wembanyama [Red Ice] #11 2023 Panini Phoenix Fade To Black card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/LzkAAeSw3TxqqIEq/s-l500.jpg)
![Victor Wembanyama [Teal Lazer] #11 2023 Panini Phoenix Fade To Black card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/rw8AAeSwthFquqzG/s-l500.jpg)
![Victor Wembanyama [Blue Ice] #11 2023 Panini Phoenix Fade To Black card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/WjgAAeSwIYZqvE3t/s-l500.jpg)
![Victor Wembanyama [Blue Lazer] #11 2023 Panini Phoenix Fade To Black card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/kD8AAeSwFLNqjNE1/s-l500.jpg)
![Victor Wembanyama [Maroon Ice] #11 2023 Panini Phoenix Fade To Black card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/~sMAAeSw7NRqHNyL/s-l500.jpg)
Grading LeBron James #3 — FAQ
Is LeBron James #3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #3 sells for $42.26 against $1.99 raw: a $40.27 spread, 21× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($20.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 LeBron James #3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 LeBron James #3 (Basketball Cards 2023 Panini Phoenix Fade To Black) sells for about $42.26 versus $1.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 21× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for LeBron James #3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $55.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $42.26. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does LeBron James #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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your basketball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
