These metallic cards are notoriously tough to grade high due to the dark foil surface (micro-scratches, fingerprints, print texture) and edge sensitivity. Recent comps show most raw examples land in PSA 7–8.5 range, with true 9+ being scarce and premium.

Card 188 (Right – the stronger one in your side-by-side):

Centering: 9 — Good balance.

Corners: 9.5 — Sharp with only minor softness.

Edges: 9.5 — Light handling wear typical for the set.

Surface: 9 — Very clean metallic finish (minimal visible scratches in video/photos); your 9.5 call is optimistic but understandable with strong eye appeal.

Predicted Grok Overall: 9.5

(Slightly more conservative than your 9.5 — edges/surface often cap these at 9 rather than 9.5/10.)

Card 189 (Left):

Centering: 9.5

Corners: 8.5

Edges: 9 — More noticeable whitening/friction.

Surface: 8 — The knee-area imperfection you noted drops it; some additional texture/scuffs visible.

Predicted Grok Overall: 8.5

(Aligns closely with your 9 call — the surface mark is the main limiter.)

Summary

Your self-grades (9.5 / 9) are slightly optimistic but very reasonable for raw eye appeal, especially if submitting to a more lenient eye for these foils. In professional slabs, I’d expect them to land in the 8.5–9 range overall, with Card 188 being the clear winner of the pair. These are fun, iconic late-90s Rodman cards — the action shot and metallic pop hold strong collector value even in mid-grades.

Please Note: This card is housed in a custom display slab for superior protection and presentation. While the label may include descriptive details, this is not a grade from a third-party professional service (such as PSA, BGS, or SGC). The card is being sold as Raw/Ungraded. Please review the high-resolution photos provided to make your own assessment of the card’s condition before bidding or purchasing.

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