Is Michael Jordan #9 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Skybox Thunder Noyz Boyz · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #9 sells for $31,100 against $20,000 raw: a $11,100 spread, 1.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28,803) 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)
- $20,000
- PSA 10
- $31,100
- PSA 9
- $28,803
- Gem premium
- 1.6×
- As of
- Sep 16, 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 | $31,100 | +$11,075 | +$11,050 | +$10,950 |
| PSA 9 | $28,803 | +$8,778 | +$8,753 | +$8,653 |
| PSA 8 | $19,650 | −$375 | −$400 | −$500 |
Net = sale price − $20,000 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% | $29,377 | +$9,327 |
| 50% | $29,951 | +$9,901 |
| 75% | $30,526 | +$10,476 |
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 | $40,430 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $31,100 | −$9,330 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $18,660 | −$21,770 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $18,660 | −$21,770 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 Skybox Thunder Noyz Boyz cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Michael Jordan #9 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #9 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #9 sells for $31,100 against $20,000 raw: a $11,100 spread, 1.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28,803) 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 #9 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #9 (Basketball Cards 1998 Skybox Thunder Noyz Boyz) sells for about $31,100 versus $20,000 for a raw near-mint copy — a 1.6× premium as of Sep 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #9?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $40,430, ahead of PSA 10 at $31,100. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #9 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.
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.
