Is Michael Jordan / Julius Erving worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Century Legends Generations · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan / Julius Erving sells for $436 against $15.58 raw: a $421 spread, 28× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($77.97) 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)
- $15.58
- PSA 10
- $436
- PSA 9
- $77.97
- Gem premium
- 28×
- 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 | $436 | +$396 | +$371 | +$271 |
| PSA 9 | $77.97 | +$37.39 | +$12.39 | −$87.61 |
| PSA 8 | $32.47 | −$8.11 | −$33.11 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $15.58 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% | $168 | +$102 |
| 50% | $257 | +$192 |
| 75% | $347 | +$281 |
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 | $567 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $436 | −$131 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $262 | −$305 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $262 | −$305 | 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 | $436 | $262 | $567 | $262 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $132 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $77.97 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $32.47 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 Upper Deck Century Legends Generations cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Michael Jordan / Julius Erving — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan / Julius Erving worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan / Julius Erving sells for $436 against $15.58 raw: a $421 spread, 28× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($77.97) 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 Michael Jordan / Julius Erving worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan / Julius Erving (Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Century Legends Generations) sells for about $436 versus $15.58 for a raw near-mint copy — a 28× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan / Julius Erving?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $567, ahead of PSA 10 at $436. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan / Julius Erving 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.
Check my card free