Is Kobe Bryant [50th] #138 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1996 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [50th] #138 sells for $11,833 against $288 raw: a $11,545 spread, 41× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,514) 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)
- $288
- PSA 10
- $11,833
- PSA 9
- $1,514
- Gem premium
- 41×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $11,833 | +$11,520 | +$11,495 | +$11,395 |
| PSA 9 | $1,514 | +$1,201 | +$1,176 | +$1,076 |
| PSA 8 | $591 | +$278 | +$253 | +$153 |
Net = sale price − $288 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% | $4,093 | +$3,756 |
| 50% | $6,673 | +$6,336 |
| 75% | $9,253 | +$8,915 |
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 | $15,382 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $11,833 | −$3,549 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $7,100 | −$8,282 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $7,100 | −$8,282 | 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 →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $11,833 | $7,100 | $15,382 | $7,100 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $1,541 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $1,514 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $591 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $339 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1996 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Steve Nash [50th] #182 1996 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FwUAAeSwrURp7YOe/s-l500.jpg)
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Grading Kobe Bryant [50th] #138 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant [50th] #138 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [50th] #138 sells for $11,833 against $288 raw: a $11,545 spread, 41× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,514) 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 [50th] #138 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [50th] #138 (Basketball Cards 1996 Topps) sells for about $11,833 versus $288 for a raw near-mint copy — a 41× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant [50th] #138?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $15,382, ahead of PSA 10 at $11,833. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant [50th] #138 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.
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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