Is Michael Jordan #1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra Stars · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #1 sells for $27,725 against $550 raw: a $27,175 spread, 50× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($7,046) 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)
- $550
- PSA 10
- $27,725
- PSA 9
- $7,046
- Gem premium
- 50×
- 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 | $27,725 | +$27,150 | +$27,125 | +$27,025 |
| PSA 9 | $7,046 | +$6,471 | +$6,446 | +$6,346 |
| PSA 8 | $3,791 | +$3,216 | +$3,191 | +$3,091 |
Net = sale price − $550 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% | $12,216 | +$11,616 |
| 50% | $17,386 | +$16,786 |
| 75% | $22,555 | +$21,955 |
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 | $36,042 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $27,725 | −$8,317 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $16,635 | −$19,407 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $16,635 | −$19,407 | 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 1997 Ultra Stars cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Stephon Marbury [Gold] #5 1997 Ultra Stars card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/HsIAAOSwwutkRdp0/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Gold] #1 1997 Ultra Stars card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/pd4AAeSwFh9qmHgs/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Gold] #3 1997 Ultra Stars card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/R40AAeSwzKpovkqk/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan #1 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #1 sells for $27,725 against $550 raw: a $27,175 spread, 50× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($7,046) 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 #1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #1 (Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra Stars) sells for about $27,725 versus $550 for a raw near-mint copy — a 50× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $36,042, ahead of PSA 10 at $27,725. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your basketball card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
