![Michael Jordan [Refractor] #R1 (Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Y9gAAeSwws5qU8wB/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Michael Jordan [Refractor] #R1 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor] #R1 sells for $9,610 against $2,475 raw: a $7,135 spread, 3.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($4,316) 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)
- $2,475
- PSA 10
- $9,610
- PSA 9
- $4,316
- Gem premium
- 3.9×
- 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 | $9,610 | +$7,110 | +$7,085 | +$6,985 |
| PSA 9 | $4,316 | +$1,816 | +$1,791 | +$1,691 |
| PSA 8 | $1,750 | −$750 | −$775 | −$875 |
Net = sale price − $2,475 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% | $5,640 | +$3,115 |
| 50% | $6,963 | +$4,438 |
| 75% | $8,286 | +$5,761 |
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 | $12,493 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $9,610 | −$2,883 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $5,766 | −$6,727 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $5,766 | −$6,727 | 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 | $9,610 | $5,766 | $12,493 | $5,766 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $6,609 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $4,316 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $1,750 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $1,400 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Gary Payton [Refractor] #R7 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/FygAAeSwVLtpE2rD/s-l500.jpg)
![John Stockton [Refractor] #R11 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/I-gAAeSwur5qD2Fy/s-l500.jpg)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor] #R18 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PksAAeSw3ehqR-2V/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [w/Coating] #R1 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gd8AAeSwZZBqDTOg/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan [Refractor] #R1 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan [Refractor] #R1 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor] #R1 sells for $9,610 against $2,475 raw: a $7,135 spread, 3.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($4,316) 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 [Refractor] #R1 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan [Refractor] #R1 (Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty) sells for about $9,610 versus $2,475 for a raw near-mint copy — a 3.9× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan [Refractor] #R1?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $12,493, ahead of PSA 10 at $9,610. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan [Refractor] #R1 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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