![Magic Johnson [Refractor] #252 (Basketball Cards 1995 Finest) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/JSsAAOSw5olmnWfG/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Magic Johnson [Refractor] #252 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1995 Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson [Refractor] #252 sells for $616 against $29.99 raw: a $586 spread, 21× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($85.00) 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)
- $29.99
- PSA 10
- $616
- PSA 9
- $85.00
- Gem premium
- 21×
- 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 | $616 | +$561 | +$536 | +$436 |
| PSA 9 | $85.00 | +$30.01 | +$5.01 | −$94.99 |
| PSA 8 | $38.02 | −$16.97 | −$41.97 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $29.99 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% | $218 | +$138 |
| 50% | $351 | +$271 |
| 75% | $483 | +$403 |
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 | $801 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $616 | −$185 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $370 | −$431 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $370 | −$431 | 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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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1995 Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Gary Payton [Refractor] #40 1995 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/M7kAAeSwrndqVsQd/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #229 1995 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/T7QAAeSwPmNp-9~Q/s-l500.jpg)
![Kevin Garnett [w/ Coating] #115 1995 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ueUAAeSwdmNqx-7I/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Magic Johnson [Refractor] #252 — FAQ
Is Magic Johnson [Refractor] #252 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson [Refractor] #252 sells for $616 against $29.99 raw: a $586 spread, 21× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($85.00) 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 [Refractor] #252 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Magic Johnson [Refractor] #252 (Basketball Cards 1995 Finest) sells for about $616 versus $29.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 21× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Magic Johnson [Refractor] #252?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $801, ahead of PSA 10 at $616. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Magic Johnson [Refractor] #252 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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