![Kobe Bryant [Swirlorama] #3 (Basketball Cards 2012 Panini Marquee Slam Dunk Legends) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/aJcAAeSwahlqV6PH/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Kobe Bryant [Swirlorama] #3 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 2012 Panini Marquee Slam Dunk Legends · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant [Swirlorama] #3 sells for $171 against $113 raw: a $58.09 spread, 1.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($155) 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)
- $113
- Grade 9.5
- $171
- PSA 9
- $155
- Gem premium
- 1.5×
- 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 | $171 | +$33.09 | +$8.09 | −$91.91 |
| PSA 9 | $155 | +$17.34 | −$7.66 | −$108 |
Net = sale price − $113 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% | $159 | −$3.72 |
| 50% | $163 | +$0.22 |
| 75% | $167 | +$4.15 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 49%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $171 |
| 9 | $155 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Grading Kobe Bryant [Swirlorama] #3 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant [Swirlorama] #3 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Kobe Bryant [Swirlorama] #3 sells for $171 against $113 raw: a $58.09 spread, 1.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($155) 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 gem rate makes grading Kobe Bryant [Swirlorama] #3 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Kobe Bryant [Swirlorama] #3 breaks even when it gems about 49% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $155).
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.
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