Is Michael Jordan #3 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Ionix · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #3 sells for $151 against $3.00 raw: a $148 spread, 50× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.00) 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)
- $3.00
- PSA 10
- $151
- PSA 9
- $35.00
- Gem premium
- 50×
- 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 | $151 | +$123 | +$97.50 | −$2.50 |
| PSA 9 | $35.00 | +$7.00 | −$18.00 | −$118 |
| PSA 8 | $22.50 | −$5.50 | −$30.50 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $3.00 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% | $63.88 | +$10.88 |
| 50% | $92.75 | +$39.75 |
| 75% | $122 | +$68.63 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 16%. 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 | $196 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $151 | −$45.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $90.00 | −$106 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $28.27 | −$168 | 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 | $151 | $28.27 | $196 | $90.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $35.75 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $35.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $22.50 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $7.12 |
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 Ionix cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Michael Jordan #3 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #3 sells for $151 against $3.00 raw: a $148 spread, 50× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($35.00) 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 #3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #3 (Basketball Cards 1998 Upper Deck Ionix) sells for about $151 versus $3.00 for a raw near-mint copy — a 50× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $196, ahead of PSA 10 at $151. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #3 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 #3 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan #3 breaks even when it gems about 16% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $35.00).
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
