![Steve Smith [Plus] #1 (Basketball Cards 1996 Ultra Scoring Kings) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/G9AAAeSwhodqtWVp/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Steve Smith [Plus] #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1996 Ultra Scoring Kings · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Steve Smith [Plus] #1 sells for $487 against $16.35 raw: a $471 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($88.28) 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)
- $16.35
- PSA 10
- $487
- PSA 9
- $88.28
- Gem premium
- 30×
- 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 | $487 | +$446 | +$421 | +$321 |
| PSA 9 | $88.28 | +$46.93 | +$21.93 | −$78.07 |
| PSA 8 | $42.58 | +$1.23 | −$23.77 | −$124 |
Net = sale price − $16.35 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% | $188 | +$122 |
| 50% | $288 | +$222 |
| 75% | $388 | +$321 |
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 | $634 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $487 | −$147 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $292 | −$342 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $292 | −$342 | 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 1996 Ultra Scoring Kings cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Reggie Miller [Plus] #11 1996 Ultra Scoring Kings card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/jzsAAeSwGB1qtDXK/s-l500.jpg)
![Shaquille O'Neal [Plus] #13 1996 Ultra Scoring Kings card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/pI0AAeSwG~dqm4Ia/s-l500.jpg)
![Anfernee Hardaway [Plus] #19 1996 Ultra Scoring Kings card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FM4AAeSw3ZppRZj0/s-l500.jpg)
![Allen Iverson [Plus] #20 1996 Ultra Scoring Kings card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/-bAAAeSw2G9qmNa1/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Steve Smith [Plus] #1 — FAQ
Is Steve Smith [Plus] #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Steve Smith [Plus] #1 sells for $487 against $16.35 raw: a $471 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($88.28) 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 Steve Smith [Plus] #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Steve Smith [Plus] #1 (Basketball Cards 1996 Ultra Scoring Kings) sells for about $487 versus $16.35 for a raw near-mint copy — a 30× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Steve Smith [Plus] #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $634, ahead of PSA 10 at $487. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Steve Smith [Plus] #1 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.
