![Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #171 (Basketball Cards 1997 Topps Chrome) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/55IAAeSwGZBqs7bS/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #171 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #171 sells for $3,805 against $1,484 raw: a $2,321 spread, 2.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,679) 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)
- $1,484
- PSA 10
- $3,805
- PSA 9
- $2,679
- Gem premium
- 2.6×
- 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 | $3,805 | +$2,296 | +$2,271 | +$2,171 |
| PSA 9 | $2,679 | +$1,170 | +$1,145 | +$1,045 |
| PSA 8 | $1,875 | +$366 | +$341 | +$241 |
Net = sale price − $1,484 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% | $2,961 | +$1,427 |
| 50% | $3,242 | +$1,708 |
| 75% | $3,524 | +$1,990 |
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 | $4,947 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $3,805 | −$1,142 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,283 | −$2,664 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $2,283 | −$2,664 | 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 Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #171 — FAQ
Is Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #171 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #171 sells for $3,805 against $1,484 raw: a $2,321 spread, 2.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,679) 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 [Refractor] #171 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #171 (Basketball Cards 1997 Topps Chrome) sells for about $3,805 versus $1,484 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.6× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #171?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $4,947, ahead of PSA 10 at $3,805. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #171 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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