![Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #269 (Basketball Cards 1996 Finest) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/vogAAeSwTt1qQy3R/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #269 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1996 Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A BGS 10 Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #269 sells for $119,289 against $6,300 raw: a $112,989 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($7,423) 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)
- $6,300
- BGS 10
- $119,289
- PSA 9
- $7,423
- Gem premium
- 19×
- As of
- Aug 16, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — BGS 10 | $119,289 | +$112,964 | +$112,939 | +$112,839 |
| PSA 9 | $7,423 | +$1,098 | +$1,073 | +$973 |
| PSA 8 | $6,101 | −$224 | −$249 | −$349 |
Net = sale price − $6,300 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% | $35,389 | +$29,039 |
| 50% | $63,356 | +$57,006 |
| 75% | $91,323 | +$84,973 |
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 | $119,289 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
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 →| Grade | BGS | Graded |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $119,289 | — |
| 9.5 | — | $17,600 |
| 9 | — | $7,423 |
| 8 | — | $6,101 |
| 7 | — | $4,881 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1996 Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #74 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/P0kAAeSw0ZZqUPmz/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #50 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/keMAAeSwBOlqRmlp/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #74 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/eWoAAeSwgf5qTluW/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #127 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/-ssAAeSww81qNFCX/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor w Coating] #269 1996 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/vogAAeSwTt1qQy3R/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #269 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #269 worth grading?
A BGS 10 Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #269 sells for $119,289 against $6,300 raw: a $112,989 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($7,423) 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.
What centering does Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #269 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.
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