![Patrick Ewing [Refractor] #R17 (Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty) — is it worth grading?](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/JNMAAeSwf8Fqrzrl/s-l1600.jpg)
Is Patrick Ewing [Refractor] #R17 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Patrick Ewing [Refractor] #R17 sells for $661 against $28.55 raw: a $632 spread, 23× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($126) 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)
- $28.55
- PSA 10
- $661
- PSA 9
- $126
- Gem premium
- 23×
- 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 | $661 | +$607 | +$582 | +$482 |
| PSA 9 | $126 | +$72.52 | +$47.52 | −$52.48 |
| PSA 8 | $50.40 | −$3.15 | −$28.15 | −$128 |
Net = sale price − $28.55 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% | $260 | +$181 |
| 50% | $394 | +$315 |
| 75% | $527 | +$449 |
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 | $859 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $661 | −$198 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $397 | −$462 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $397 | −$462 | 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 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![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)
![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)
![Kobe Bryant [Refractor, w/Coating] #R18 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/bK0AAeSwGFpqlPXC/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Patrick Ewing [Refractor] #R17 — FAQ
Is Patrick Ewing [Refractor] #R17 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Patrick Ewing [Refractor] #R17 sells for $661 against $28.55 raw: a $632 spread, 23× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($126) 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 Patrick Ewing [Refractor] #R17 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Patrick Ewing [Refractor] #R17 (Basketball Cards 1998 Topps Roundball Royalty) sells for about $661 versus $28.55 for a raw near-mint copy — a 23× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Patrick Ewing [Refractor] #R17?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $859, ahead of PSA 10 at $661. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Patrick Ewing [Refractor] #R17 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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