Is Kobe Bryant #P-266 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1996 Ultra Platinum Medallion · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant #P-266 sells for $5,136 against $825 raw: a $4,311 spread, 6.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,977) 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)
- $825
- Grade 9.5
- $5,136
- PSA 9
- $1,977
- Gem premium
- 6.2×
- 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 | $5,136 | +$4,286 | +$4,261 | +$4,161 |
| PSA 9 | $1,977 | +$1,127 | +$1,102 | +$1,002 |
| PSA 8 | $1,378 | +$528 | +$503 | +$403 |
Net = sale price − $825 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% | $2,767 | +$1,892 |
| 50% | $3,557 | +$2,682 |
| 75% | $4,346 | +$3,471 |
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 →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $5,136 |
| 9 | $1,977 |
| 8 | $1,378 |
| 7 | $1,355 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1996 Ultra Platinum Medallion cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Kobe Bryant #P-266 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant #P-266 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant #P-266 sells for $5,136 against $825 raw: a $4,311 spread, 6.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,977) 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.
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.
Check my card free