Is Michael Jordan #287 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Finest · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #287 sells for $998 against $159 raw: a $839 spread, 6.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($207) 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)
- $159
- PSA 10
- $998
- PSA 9
- $207
- Gem premium
- 6.3×
- 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 | $998 | +$814 | +$789 | +$689 |
| PSA 9 | $207 | +$23.40 | −$1.60 | −$102 |
| PSA 8 | $137 | −$46.30 | −$71.30 | −$171 |
Net = sale price − $159 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% | $405 | +$196 |
| 50% | $602 | +$394 |
| 75% | $800 | +$591 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 0%. 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 | $1,297 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $998 | −$299 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $599 | −$698 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $110 | −$1,187 | 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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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Finest cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #271 1997 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/kj8AAeSwIf5qoMTX/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Refractor w/ Coating] #287 1997 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mCMAAeSwZsBqmcRg/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Refractor w/ Coating] #271 1997 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/qTkAAeSwz-BqUlEw/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Refractor w/ Coating] #39 1997 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/7IwAAeSwZPBqkf7f/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #323 1997 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/xlAAAeSwkPFqRW8C/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #39 1997 Finest card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/DBcAAeSweW9pdxma/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan #287 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #287 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #287 sells for $998 against $159 raw: a $839 spread, 6.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($207) 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 #287 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #287 (Basketball Cards 1997 Finest) sells for about $998 versus $159 for a raw near-mint copy — a 6.3× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #287?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,297, ahead of PSA 10 at $998. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #287 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 Michael Jordan #287 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan #287 breaks even when it gems about 0% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $207).
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