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 $8,140 against $18.97 raw: a $8,121 spread, 429× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($643) 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)
- $18.97
- PSA 10
- $8,140
- PSA 9
- $643
- Gem premium
- 429×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $8,140 | +$8,096 | +$8,071 | +$7,971 |
| PSA 9 | $643 | +$599 | +$574 | +$474 |
| PSA 8 | $115 | +$71.03 | +$46.03 | −$53.97 |
Net = sale price − $18.97 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% | $2,517 | +$2,448 |
| 50% | $4,391 | +$4,322 |
| 75% | $6,266 | +$6,197 |
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 | $10,582 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $8,140 | −$2,442 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $6,000 | −$4,582 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $4,884 | −$5,698 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $8,140 | $6,000 | $10,582 | $4,884 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $1,033 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $643 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $115 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $56.50 |
Run your own numbers
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)
Grading Magic Johnson #21 — FAQ
Is Magic Johnson #21 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson #21 sells for $8,140 against $18.97 raw: a $8,121 spread, 429× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($643) 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 $8,140 versus $18.97 for a raw near-mint copy — a 429× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Magic Johnson #21?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $10,582, ahead of PSA 10 at $8,140. 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.
Is your basketball card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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