Is Kobe Bryant #88 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Skybox Z Force · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #88 sells for $112 against $10.25 raw: a $101 spread, 11× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($62.32) 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)
- $10.25
- PSA 10
- $112
- PSA 9
- $62.32
- Gem premium
- 11×
- 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 | $112 | +$76.25 | +$51.25 | −$48.75 |
| PSA 9 | $62.32 | +$27.07 | +$2.07 | −$97.93 |
| PSA 8 | $33.99 | −$1.26 | −$26.26 | −$126 |
Net = sale price − $10.25 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% | $74.62 | +$14.37 |
| 50% | $86.91 | +$26.66 |
| 75% | $99.20 | +$38.95 |
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 | $145 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $112 | −$33.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $67.00 | −$78.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $67.00 | −$78.00 | 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 | $112 | $67.00 | $145 | $67.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $69.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $62.32 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $33.99 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $23.24 |
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 Kobe Bryant #88 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant #88 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #88 sells for $112 against $10.25 raw: a $101 spread, 11× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($62.32) 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 Kobe Bryant #88 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant #88 (Basketball Cards 1997 Skybox Z Force) sells for about $112 versus $10.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 11× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant #88?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $145, ahead of PSA 10 at $112. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant #88 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.
Check my card free