Is Michael Jordan #23 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Skybox Z Force · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #23 sells for $995 against $19.74 raw: a $975 spread, 50× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($175) 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)
- $19.74
- PSA 10
- $995
- PSA 9
- $175
- Gem premium
- 50×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $995 | +$950 | +$925 | +$825 |
| PSA 9 | $175 | +$131 | +$106 | +$5.51 |
| PSA 8 | $51.00 | +$6.26 | −$18.74 | −$119 |
Net = sale price − $19.74 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% | $380 | +$310 |
| 50% | $585 | +$515 |
| 75% | $790 | +$720 |
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 | $1,293 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $995 | −$298 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $160 | −$1,134 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $82.00 | −$1,211 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $995 | $82.00 | $1,293 | $160 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $177 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $175 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $51.00 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $28.94 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Skybox Z Force cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Michael Jordan [Rave] #23 1997 Skybox Z Force card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/8y8AAeSwOT5qdizD/s-l500.jpg)
![Tim Duncan [Rave] #111 1997 Skybox Z Force card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/BdQAAeSwQW9p8~W-/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Rave] #190 1997 Skybox Z Force card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/RqkAAeSweXxqbDAn/s-l500.jpg)
![Hakeem Olajuwon [Super Rave] #134 1997 Skybox Z Force card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/L80AAeSwrptqU7i4/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan #23 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #23 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #23 sells for $995 against $19.74 raw: a $975 spread, 50× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($175) 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 Skybox Z Force) sells for about $995 versus $19.74 for a raw near-mint copy — a 50× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #23?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,293, ahead of PSA 10 at $995. 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.
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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