Is Dirk Nowitzki #18 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1999 SP Authentic · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Dirk Nowitzki #18 sell for $20.00, only $18.45 above the $1.55 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($17.95) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.55
- Grade 9.5
- $20.00
- PSA 9
- $17.95
- Gem premium
- 13×
- 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 | $20.00 | −$6.55 | −$31.55 | −$132 |
| PSA 9 | $17.95 | −$8.60 | −$33.60 | −$134 |
| PSA 8 | $4.76 | −$21.79 | −$46.79 | −$147 |
Net = sale price − $1.55 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% | $18.46 | −$33.09 |
| 50% | $18.98 | −$32.58 |
| 75% | $19.49 | −$32.06 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Dirk Nowitzki #18 — FAQ
Is Dirk Nowitzki #18 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Dirk Nowitzki #18 sell for $20.00, only $18.45 above the $1.55 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($17.95) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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