![Kobe Bryant [Vintage] #1 (Basketball Cards 1998 Fleer Tradition) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/maoAAeSwATdqEsL3/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Kobe Bryant [Vintage] #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Fleer Tradition · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [Vintage] #1 sells for $857 against $35.25 raw: a $821 spread, 24× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($107) 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)
- $35.25
- PSA 10
- $857
- PSA 9
- $107
- Gem premium
- 24×
- 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 | $857 | +$796 | +$771 | +$671 |
| PSA 9 | $107 | +$47.24 | +$22.24 | −$77.76 |
| PSA 8 | $60.00 | −$0.25 | −$25.25 | −$125 |
Net = sale price − $35.25 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% | $295 | +$210 |
| 50% | $482 | +$397 |
| 75% | $669 | +$584 |
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 | $1,114 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $857 | −$257 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $514 | −$600 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $514 | −$600 | 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 1998 Fleer Tradition cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Glenn Robinson [Vintage] #13 1998 Fleer Tradition card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/JFMAAeSwSEpqx1Xm/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Vintage] #142 1998 Fleer Tradition card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/wOgAAeSwD-lqWAXh/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Kobe Bryant [Vintage] #1 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant [Vintage] #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [Vintage] #1 sells for $857 against $35.25 raw: a $821 spread, 24× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($107) 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 Kobe Bryant [Vintage] #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [Vintage] #1 (Basketball Cards 1998 Fleer Tradition) sells for about $857 versus $35.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 24× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant [Vintage] #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,114, ahead of PSA 10 at $857. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant [Vintage] #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.
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