![Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor] #T38 (Basketball Cards 1997 Topps Chrome Topps 40) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/sFwAAOSwZthhIFGU/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor] #T38 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Topps Chrome Topps 40 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor] #T38 sells for $313 against $7.99 raw: a $305 spread, 39× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($47.50) 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)
- $7.99
- PSA 10
- $313
- PSA 9
- $47.50
- Gem premium
- 39×
- 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 | $313 | +$280 | +$255 | +$155 |
| PSA 9 | $47.50 | +$14.51 | −$10.49 | −$110 |
| PSA 8 | $40.00 | +$7.01 | −$17.99 | −$118 |
Net = sale price − $7.99 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% | $114 | +$55.86 |
| 50% | $180 | +$122 |
| 75% | $247 | +$189 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 4%. 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 | $407 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $313 | −$94.10 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $188 | −$219 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $188 | −$219 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Topps Chrome Topps 40 cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Patrick Ewing [Refractor] #T2 1997 Topps Chrome Topps 40 card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fo0AAOSwyFBhYHs2/s-l500.jpg)
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![Reggie Miller [Refractor] #T8 1997 Topps Chrome Topps 40 card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/VtcAAeSwnahptdkZ/s-l500.jpg)
![Dennis Rodman [Refractor] #T34 1997 Topps Chrome Topps 40 card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/EaoAAeSwWXtqgglw/s-l500.jpg)
![Anfernee Hardaway [Refractor] #T14 1997 Topps Chrome Topps 40 card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/wo4AAeSwuPFqLd27/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor] #T38 — FAQ
Is Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor] #T38 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor] #T38 sells for $313 against $7.99 raw: a $305 spread, 39× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($47.50) 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 Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor] #T38 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor] #T38 (Basketball Cards 1997 Topps Chrome Topps 40) sells for about $313 versus $7.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 39× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor] #T38?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $407, ahead of PSA 10 at $313. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor] #T38 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 Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor] #T38 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Hakeem Olajuwon [Refractor] #T38 breaks even when it gems about 4% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $47.50).
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