Is Isiah Thomas [Finest Refractor] #44 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1996 Topps Stars · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
Grade 9.5 copies of Isiah Thomas [Finest Refractor] #44 sell for $22.00, only $13.64 above the $8.36 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($20.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $8.36
- Grade 9.5
- $22.00
- PSA 9
- $20.00
- Gem premium
- 2.6×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $22.00 | −$11.36 | −$36.36 | −$136 |
| PSA 9 | $20.00 | −$13.36 | −$38.36 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $8.36 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% | $20.50 | −$37.86 |
| 50% | $21.00 | −$37.36 |
| 75% | $21.50 | −$36.86 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Isiah Thomas [Finest Refractor] #44 — FAQ
Is Isiah Thomas [Finest Refractor] #44 worth grading?
Grade 9.5 copies of Isiah Thomas [Finest Refractor] #44 sell for $22.00, only $13.64 above the $8.36 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($20.00) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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