Is Michael Jordan #23 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #23 sells for $15,556 against $430 raw: a $15,126 spread, 36× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,400) 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)
- $430
- PSA 10
- $15,556
- PSA 9
- $3,400
- Gem premium
- 36×
- 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 | $15,556 | +$15,101 | +$15,076 | +$14,976 |
| PSA 9 | $3,400 | +$2,945 | +$2,920 | +$2,820 |
| PSA 8 | $1,275 | +$820 | +$795 | +$695 |
Net = sale price − $430 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% | $6,439 | +$5,959 |
| 50% | $9,478 | +$8,998 |
| 75% | $12,517 | +$12,037 |
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 | $20,223 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $15,556 | −$4,667 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $9,675 | −$10,548 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $9,334 | −$10,889 | 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 Michael Jordan #23 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #23 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #23 sells for $15,556 against $430 raw: a $15,126 spread, 36× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($3,400) 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 #23 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #23 (Basketball Cards 1997 Metal Universe) sells for about $15,556 versus $430 for a raw near-mint copy — a 36× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #23?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $20,223, ahead of PSA 10 at $15,556. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #23 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.
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