![Tracy McGrady [Precious Gems] #36 (Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe Championship) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/twEAAeSweUpp-xc-/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Tracy McGrady [Precious Gems] #36 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe Championship · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Tracy McGrady [Precious Gems] #36 sells for $12,210 against $8,500 raw: a $3,710 spread, 1.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($11,100) 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)
- $8,500
- Grade 9.5
- $12,210
- PSA 9
- $11,100
- Gem premium
- 1.4×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $12,210 | +$3,685 | +$3,660 | +$3,560 |
| PSA 9 | $11,100 | +$2,575 | +$2,550 | +$2,450 |
Net = sale price − $8,500 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% | $11,378 | +$2,828 |
| 50% | $11,655 | +$3,105 |
| 75% | $11,933 | +$3,383 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $12,210 |
| 9 | $11,100 |
| 7 | $7,000 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Grading Tracy McGrady [Precious Gems] #36 — FAQ
Is Tracy McGrady [Precious Gems] #36 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Tracy McGrady [Precious Gems] #36 sells for $12,210 against $8,500 raw: a $3,710 spread, 1.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($11,100) 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.
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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