Is Scottie Pippen [Illuminator] #T1A worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Stadium Club Triumvirate · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A Grade 9.5 Scottie Pippen [Illuminator] #T1A brings $385 versus $325 raw — a $60.00 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($350) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $325
- Grade 9.5
- $385
- PSA 9
- $350
- Gem premium
- 1.2×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $385 | +$35.00 | +$10.00 | −$90.00 |
| PSA 9 | $350 | −$0.01 | −$25.01 | −$125 |
Net = sale price − $325 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% | $359 | −$16.26 |
| 50% | $367 | −$7.50 |
| 75% | $376 | +$1.25 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 71%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $385 |
| 9 | $350 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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![Scottie Pippen [Luminous] #T1A 1997 Stadium Club Triumvirate card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/JT8AAeSwalhpeQg0/s-l500.jpg)
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Grading Scottie Pippen [Illuminator] #T1A — FAQ
Is Scottie Pippen [Illuminator] #T1A worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Scottie Pippen [Illuminator] #T1A brings $385 versus $325 raw — a $60.00 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($350) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
What gem rate makes grading Scottie Pippen [Illuminator] #T1A break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Scottie Pippen [Illuminator] #T1A breaks even when it gems about 71% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $350).
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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