Is Magic Johnson #21 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1981 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #21 sells for $5,906 against $15.12 raw: a $5,891 spread, 391× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($650) 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)
- $15.12
- PSA 10
- $5,906
- PSA 9
- $650
- Gem premium
- 391×
- 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 | $5,906 | +$5,866 | +$5,841 | +$5,741 |
| PSA 9 | $650 | +$610 | +$585 | +$485 |
| PSA 8 | $135 | +$94.88 | +$69.88 | −$30.12 |
Net = sale price − $15.12 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% | $1,964 | +$1,899 |
| 50% | $3,278 | +$3,213 |
| 75% | $4,592 | +$4,527 |
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 | $7,677 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| CGC 10 | $6,000 | −$1,677 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $5,906 | −$1,771 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $3,543 | −$4,134 | 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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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1981 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Charlie Criss [East] #E67 1981 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PtwAAOSwiJ9l7iKf/s-l500.jpg)
![Magic Johnson [West] #W109 1981 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/EigAAeSwvdxqVEva/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Magic Johnson #21 — FAQ
Is Magic Johnson #21 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #21 sells for $5,906 against $15.12 raw: a $5,891 spread, 391× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($650) 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 Magic Johnson #21 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #21 (Basketball Cards 1981 Topps) sells for about $5,906 versus $15.12 for a raw near-mint copy — a 391× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Magic Johnson #21?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $7,677, ahead of CGC 10 at $6,000. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Magic Johnson #21 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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