Is Tim Duncan #128 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 SP Authentic · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan #128 sells for $225 against $12.15 raw: a $213 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.24) 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)
- $12.15
- PSA 10
- $225
- PSA 9
- $38.24
- Gem premium
- 19×
- 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 | $225 | +$188 | +$163 | +$62.85 |
| PSA 9 | $38.24 | +$1.09 | −$23.91 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $17.00 | −$20.15 | −$45.15 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $12.15 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% | $84.93 | +$22.78 |
| 50% | $132 | +$69.47 |
| 75% | $178 | +$116 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 13%. 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 | $508 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $225 | −$283 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $172 | −$336 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $135 | −$373 | 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 | $225 | $135 | $508 | $172 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $86.90 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $38.24 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $17.00 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $13.95 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 SP Authentic cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Tim Duncan #128 — FAQ
Is Tim Duncan #128 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan #128 sells for $225 against $12.15 raw: a $213 spread, 19× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($38.24) 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 Tim Duncan #128 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan #128 (Basketball Cards 1997 SP Authentic) sells for about $225 versus $12.15 for a raw near-mint copy — a 19× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Tim Duncan #128?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $508, ahead of PSA 10 at $225. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Tim Duncan #128 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 Tim Duncan #128 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Tim Duncan #128 breaks even when it gems about 13% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $38.24).
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