Is Shareef Abdur-Rahim #9 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe Platinum Portraits · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Shareef Abdur-Rahim #9 sells for $261 against $95.00 raw: a $166 spread, 2.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($238) 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)
- $95.00
- Grade 9.5
- $261
- PSA 9
- $238
- Gem premium
- 2.7×
- 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 | $261 | +$141 | +$116 | +$16.00 |
| PSA 9 | $238 | +$118 | +$92.69 | −$7.31 |
| PSA 8 | $210 | +$90.00 | +$65.00 | −$35.00 |
Net = sale price − $95.00 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% | $244 | +$98.52 |
| 50% | $249 | +$104 |
| 75% | $255 | +$110 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Metal Universe Platinum Portraits cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Shareef Abdur-Rahim #9 — FAQ
Is Shareef Abdur-Rahim #9 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Shareef Abdur-Rahim #9 sells for $261 against $95.00 raw: a $166 spread, 2.7× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($238) 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.
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.
