![Tim Duncan [Minted in Springfield] (Basketball Cards 1997 Topps) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/LW8AAeSwhe1qIFlf/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Tim Duncan [Minted in Springfield] worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Topps · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan [Minted in Springfield] sells for $553 against $50.00 raw: a $503 spread, 11× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($107) 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)
- $50.00
- PSA 10
- $553
- PSA 9
- $107
- 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 | $553 | +$478 | +$453 | +$353 |
| PSA 9 | $107 | +$31.75 | +$6.75 | −$93.25 |
| PSA 8 | $43.94 | −$31.06 | −$56.06 | −$156 |
Net = sale price − $50.00 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% | $218 | +$118 |
| 50% | $330 | +$230 |
| 75% | $441 | +$341 |
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 | $718 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $553 | −$165 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $332 | −$386 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $332 | −$386 | 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 | $553 | $332 | $718 | $332 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $270 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $107 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $43.94 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $37.30 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1997 Topps cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Kobe Bryant [Minted in Springfield] #171 1997 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tpUAAOSwkJtmzOBH/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [Minted in Springfield Gold] #123 1997 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/YAMAAeSwsHRqUU1Q/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [O Pee Chee] #123 1997 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ZYAAAeSwFKNqWjHD/s-l500.jpg)
![Tim Duncan [O Pee Chee] #115 1997 Topps card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/R0MAAOSwMAVeTeVN/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Tim Duncan [Minted in Springfield] — FAQ
Is Tim Duncan [Minted in Springfield] worth grading?
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan [Minted in Springfield] sells for $553 against $50.00 raw: a $503 spread, 11× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($107) 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 [Minted in Springfield] worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan [Minted in Springfield] (Basketball Cards 1997 Topps) sells for about $553 versus $50.00 for a raw near-mint copy — a 11× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Tim Duncan [Minted in Springfield]?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $718, ahead of PSA 10 at $553. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Tim Duncan [Minted in Springfield] 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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