Is Hakeem Olajuwon #11Z worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Fleer Zone · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Hakeem Olajuwon #11Z sells for $184 against $5.99 raw: a $178 spread, 31× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($36.70) 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)
- $5.99
- PSA 10
- $184
- PSA 9
- $36.70
- Gem premium
- 31×
- 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 | $184 | +$153 | +$128 | +$27.86 |
| PSA 9 | $36.70 | +$5.71 | −$19.29 | −$119 |
| PSA 8 | $18.02 | −$12.97 | −$37.97 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $5.99 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% | $73.49 | +$17.50 |
| 50% | $110 | +$54.29 |
| 75% | $147 | +$91.07 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 13%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $239 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $184 | −$55.15 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $110 | −$129 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $110 | −$129 | 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 Hakeem Olajuwon #11Z — FAQ
Is Hakeem Olajuwon #11Z worth grading?
A PSA 10 Hakeem Olajuwon #11Z sells for $184 against $5.99 raw: a $178 spread, 31× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($36.70) 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 Hakeem Olajuwon #11Z worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Hakeem Olajuwon #11Z (Basketball Cards 1997 Fleer Zone) sells for about $184 versus $5.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 31× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Hakeem Olajuwon #11Z?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $239, ahead of PSA 10 at $184. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Hakeem Olajuwon #11Z 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.
What gem rate makes grading Hakeem Olajuwon #11Z break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Hakeem Olajuwon #11Z breaks even when it gems about 13% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $36.70).
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