Is Michael Jordan #5 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe Championship Hardware · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #5 sells for $77,905 against $2,943 raw: a $74,963 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($13,538) 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)
- $2,943
- PSA 10
- $77,905
- PSA 9
- $13,538
- Gem premium
- 26×
- As of
- Nov 1, 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 | $77,905 | +$74,938 | +$74,913 | +$74,813 |
| PSA 9 | $13,538 | +$10,570 | +$10,545 | +$10,445 |
| PSA 8 | $5,539 | +$2,571 | +$2,546 | +$2,446 |
Net = sale price − $2,943 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% | $29,629 | +$26,637 |
| 50% | $45,721 | +$42,729 |
| 75% | $61,813 | +$58,821 |
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 | $101,277 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $77,905 | −$23,372 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $46,743 | −$54,534 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $46,743 | −$54,534 | 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.
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Grading Michael Jordan #5 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #5 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #5 sells for $77,905 against $2,943 raw: a $74,963 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($13,538) 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 #5 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #5 (Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe Championship Hardware) sells for about $77,905 versus $2,943 for a raw near-mint copy — a 26× premium as of Nov 1, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #5?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $101,277, ahead of PSA 10 at $77,905. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #5 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.
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