
Is Michael Jordan #23 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1996 Collector's Choice · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #23 sells for $200 against $2.66 raw: a $197 spread, 75× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($40.97) 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)
- $2.66
- PSA 10
- $200
- PSA 9
- $40.97
- Gem premium
- 75×
- 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 | $200 | +$172 | +$147 | +$47.34 |
| PSA 9 | $40.97 | +$13.31 | −$11.69 | −$112 |
| PSA 8 | $17.79 | −$9.87 | −$34.87 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $2.66 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% | $80.73 | +$28.07 |
| 50% | $120 | +$67.83 |
| 75% | $160 | +$108 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 7%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $534 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $200 | −$334 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $90.01 | −$444 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $60.43 | −$473 | 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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Grading Michael Jordan #23 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #23 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #23 sells for $200 against $2.66 raw: a $197 spread, 75× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($40.97) 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 Michael Jordan #23 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #23 (Basketball Cards 1996 Collector's Choice) sells for about $200 versus $2.66 for a raw near-mint copy — a 75× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #23?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $534, ahead of PSA 10 at $200. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #23 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.
What gem rate makes grading Michael Jordan #23 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan #23 breaks even when it gems about 7% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $40.97).
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