Is Tim Duncan #131 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan #131 sells for $867 against $13.51 raw: a $854 spread, 64× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($269) 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)
- $13.51
- PSA 10
- $867
- PSA 9
- $269
- Gem premium
- 64×
- 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 | $867 | +$829 | +$804 | +$704 |
| PSA 9 | $269 | +$230 | +$205 | +$105 |
| PSA 8 | $33.03 | −$5.48 | −$30.48 | −$130 |
Net = sale price − $13.51 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% | $419 | +$355 |
| 50% | $568 | +$505 |
| 75% | $718 | +$654 |
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 | $1,128 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $867 | −$261 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $520 | −$608 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $306 | −$822 | 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 Ultra cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
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![Tim Duncan [Platinum Medallion] #131P 1997 Ultra card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/WaEAAeSwYaxqc1WZ/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Tim Duncan #131 — FAQ
Is Tim Duncan #131 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan #131 sells for $867 against $13.51 raw: a $854 spread, 64× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($269) 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 #131 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Tim Duncan #131 (Basketball Cards 1997 Ultra) sells for about $867 versus $13.51 for a raw near-mint copy — a 64× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Tim Duncan #131?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,128, ahead of PSA 10 at $867. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Tim Duncan #131 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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