Is Michael Jordan #7 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Black Diamond · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #7 sells for $198 against $9.48 raw: a $189 spread, 21× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($47.28) 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)
- $9.48
- PSA 10
- $198
- PSA 9
- $47.28
- Gem premium
- 21×
- 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 | $198 | +$164 | +$139 | +$38.79 |
| PSA 9 | $47.28 | +$12.80 | −$12.20 | −$112 |
| PSA 8 | $27.00 | −$7.48 | −$32.48 | −$132 |
Net = sale price − $9.48 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% | $85.03 | +$25.55 |
| 50% | $123 | +$63.30 |
| 75% | $161 | +$101 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 8%. 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 | $258 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $198 | −$59.73 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $119 | −$139 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $40.00 | −$218 | 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 →
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Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1998 Upper Deck Black Diamond cards worth checking
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![Michael Jordan [Double] #3 1998 Upper Deck Black Diamond card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/NIgAAeSwHWVqo55b/s-l500.jpg)
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![Michael Jordan [Double] #22 1998 Upper Deck Black Diamond card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PE8AAeSwe-pqmF4K/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Michael Jordan #7 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #7 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #7 sells for $198 against $9.48 raw: a $189 spread, 21× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($47.28) 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 #7 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #7 (Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Black Diamond) sells for about $198 versus $9.48 for a raw near-mint copy — a 21× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #7?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $258, ahead of PSA 10 at $198. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #7 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 Michael Jordan #7 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan #7 breaks even when it gems about 8% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $47.28).
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