Is Karl Malone [Refractor] #R15 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Karl Malone [Refractor] #R15 brings $125 versus $51.43 raw — a $73.37 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($48.24) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $51.43
- PSA 10
- $125
- PSA 9
- $48.24
- Gem premium
- 2.4×
- 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 | $125 | +$48.37 | +$23.37 | −$76.63 |
| PSA 9 | $48.24 | −$28.19 | −$53.19 | −$153 |
| PSA 8 | $24.49 | −$51.94 | −$76.94 | −$177 |
Net = sale price − $51.43 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% | $67.38 | −$34.05 |
| 50% | $86.52 | −$14.91 |
| 75% | $106 | +$4.23 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 69%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $162 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $125 | −$37.20 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $75.00 | −$87.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $75.00 | −$87.00 | 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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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 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty cards worth checking
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![Shaquille O'Neal [Refractor] #R9 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Av4AAeSwgqhqm5Ux/s-l500.jpg)
![Michael Jordan [w/Coating] #R1 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gd8AAeSwZZBqDTOg/s-l500.jpg)
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Grading Karl Malone [Refractor] #R15 — FAQ
Is Karl Malone [Refractor] #R15 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Karl Malone [Refractor] #R15 brings $125 versus $51.43 raw — a $73.37 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($48.24) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Karl Malone [Refractor] #R15 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Karl Malone [Refractor] #R15 (Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty) sells for about $125 versus $51.43 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.4× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Karl Malone [Refractor] #R15?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $162, ahead of PSA 10 at $125. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Karl Malone [Refractor] #R15 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.
What gem rate makes grading Karl Malone [Refractor] #R15 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Karl Malone [Refractor] #R15 breaks even when it gems about 69% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $48.24).
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