![Shaquille O'Neal [Refractor] #309 (Basketball Cards 1997 Finest Embossed) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/APsAAeSwr4VqoJWc/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Shaquille O'Neal [Refractor] #309 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Finest Embossed · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Shaquille O'Neal [Refractor] #309 sells for $4,298 against $1,382 raw: a $2,916 spread, 3.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,907) 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)
- $1,382
- Grade 9.5
- $4,298
- PSA 9
- $3,907
- Gem premium
- 3.1×
- 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 | $4,298 | +$2,891 | +$2,866 | +$2,766 |
| PSA 9 | $3,907 | +$2,500 | +$2,475 | +$2,375 |
| PSA 8 | $3,552 | +$2,145 | +$2,120 | +$2,020 |
Net = sale price − $1,382 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% | $4,005 | +$2,573 |
| 50% | $4,103 | +$2,670 |
| 75% | $4,200 | +$2,768 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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Grading Shaquille O'Neal [Refractor] #309 — FAQ
Is Shaquille O'Neal [Refractor] #309 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Shaquille O'Neal [Refractor] #309 sells for $4,298 against $1,382 raw: a $2,916 spread, 3.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,907) 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.
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