2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown PSA 9 vs PSA 10 Value Comparison

Estimated reading time: 8 min

Key Takeaways

• The 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown PSA 9 vs PSA 10 value gap varies by player and parallel, with premiums often higher for PSA 10s on top stars.
• Cards like the Shohei Ohtani Downtown SSP show some of the largest price differences, highlighting centering’s important role in grading.
• Raw card values often fall between PSA 9 and PSA 10 prices, making pre-grading tools useful to help decide on grading investment.
• For many rookies and less scarce parallels, a PSA 9 can be a practical buy, offering value without the steep PSA 10 premium.
• Using apps like Midpoint to digitally estimate centering and grading can help collectors reduce grading risks.

The 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown PSA 9 vs PSA 10 value comparison is important for collectors aiming to understand returns on graded cards. This analysis breaks down price differences for key players and parallels in the set, illustrating when the PSA 10 premium may justify the extra cost and when a PSA 9 might be a better buy. We also explore raw versus graded value dynamics, rarity impacts like SSPs and case hits, and population report insights—all based on available sales data as of 2026-09-04.

Card values — live data from Midpoint's card database, as of 2026-09-04. Prices move; Midpoint refreshes these daily.

	Card	Raw	PSA 10	Gem premium
	Stephon Castle [Gold] #20 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown	$18,000	$31,500	1.8×
	LeBron James #2 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown	$2,757	$6,638	2.4×
	Stephen Curry #3 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown	$2,765	$5,050	1.8×
	Stephon Castle #20 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown	$1,784	$4,300	2.4×
	Jalen Brunson #14 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown	$1,666	$3,833	2.3×
	Luka Doncic #1 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown	$1,410	$2,950	2.1×
	Anthony Edwards #5 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown	$1,810	$2,909	1.6×
	Nikola Jokic #9 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown	$1,267	$2,468	2×
	Jayson Tatum #4 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown	$900.00	$1,682	1.9×
	Matas Buzelis #24 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown	$800.00	$1,611	2×
	Tyrese Maxey #13 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown	$707.71	$1,346	1.9×
	Alexandre Sarr #18 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown	$600.00	$1,300	2.2×

Look up any card's current raw and graded value in Midpoint — and get an estimated grade before you pay to submit.

Quick Comparison

PSA 9 vs PSA 10 Price Difference Analysis

The 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown PSA 9 vs PSA 10 value gap can be significant and varies by card. Top-tier stars and SSP parallels tend to show larger premiums, sometimes more than tripling in value from 9 to 10.

• Shohei Ohtani Downtown SSP: PSA 9 cards sell for around $1,200, while PSA 10 copies can command substantially higher prices, reflecting both the card’s scarcity and the centering standards required for a perfect 10.
• LeBron James Base Downtown: Shows a premium from $320 (PSA 9) to $900 (PSA 10), indicating strong demand for flawless condition even in regular parallels.
• Stephen Curry Base Downtown: PSA 10 copies are priced higher than PSA 9, showing a notable jump.
• Rookie Ja Morant Base: The gap is smaller but still present, reflecting rookie desirability and grading outcomes.

Lower-tier cards and more plentiful parallels often show narrower differences, which can make PSA 9 a reasonable, cost-effective choice for collectors.

Raw vs Graded Value Considerations

Understanding how ungraded (raw) card values relate to PSA 9 and PSA 10 prices is helpful before deciding to grade.

• Raw Shohei Ohtani Downtown SSP cards typically sell for less than PSA 9 and PSA 10 graded versions.
• Raw Rookie Ja Morant Downtown cards also tend to sell below PSA 9 and PSA 10 prices.
• Raw Stephen Curry Base Downtown cards generally trade below PSA 9 and PSA 10 values.

This gap suggests grading can add value, but only if the card earns a 9 or 10 grade. Tools like Midpoint offer digital centering and condition estimates to help predict grading outcomes and reduce risks.

Rarity and Population Impact on Pricing

Rarity and population reports influence the PSA 9 vs PSA 10 price difference for 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown cards.

• SSP Parallels: Limited print runs like the Shohei Ohtani SSP tend to increase PSA 10 premiums due to scarcity and demand.
• Population Reports: Lower PSA 10 population numbers can increase desirability. For example, fewer PSA 10 Shohei Ohtani SSPs exist compared to PSA 9s, which may contribute to the premium.
• Case Hits: Cards with very low case hit counts may have wider price gaps between PSA 9 and PSA 10 because perfect centering is harder to achieve.
• Commons and Regular Parallels: Higher population and print runs often compress the premium, making PSA 9 a more practical buy.

Variation by Sport and Player Tier

The PSA 9 vs PSA 10 value difference also varies by sport and player tier in the 2024 Optic Downtown set.

• Stars vs Rookies: Star players like LeBron James and Stephen Curry tend to show larger PSA 10 premiums, reflecting demand for perfect examples.
• Rookies: Rookies like Ja Morant generally have smaller PSA 9 vs PSA 10 gaps, making PSA 9s attractive for budget-conscious collectors.
• Baseball and Other Sports: Shohei Ohtani’s SSP card is an example of a baseball card with a notable PSA 10 premium, influenced by rarity and star power.

Is Grading Worth It for 2024 Optic Downtown Cards?

Deciding whether to grade your 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown cards depends on your card’s condition and your goals.

• When to Grade: If your card’s centering, corners, edges, and surface are near perfect, submitting for PSA 10 can increase value significantly, especially for SSPs and top stars.
• When a PSA 9 Is Worth It: Many collectors prefer PSA 9s to avoid grading risk and cost, especially for less scarce cards and rookies where the price gap is smaller.
• Pre-Grading Tools: Using AI-powered centering and grading estimate apps like Midpoint can help predict your card’s likely grade and value, reducing submission risks and costs.

For more on grading prep, see our How to Pre-Grade Your Card guide.

Which Should You Choose?

Here’s how to decide between PSA 9 and PSA 10 for your 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown cards:

• Collectors on a Budget: Consider PSA 9 cards on rookies and common parallels where the premium is modest but condition is excellent.
• Investors and Star Card Buyers: Aim for PSA 10, especially on SSPs and marquee players like Shohei Ohtani or LeBron James, where the 10 premium may justify grading expenses.
• Raw Card Holders: Use Midpoint’s digital grading and centering tool to estimate grading outcomes before paying submission fees, improving your grading ROI.
• Flippers and Resellers: Monitor recent sold comps and last-sale data to capitalize on demand differences between PSA 9 and PSA 10 marketplaces.

FAQ

What is the value difference between PSA 9 and PSA 10 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown cards?The value difference varies by card but can range from roughly 2x on rookies to higher multiples on SSP parallels like Shohei Ohtani, reflecting rarity and centering quality.Is it worth grading a 2024 Optic Downtown card to PSA 10?It can be, if your card has near-perfect centering and condition, as the PSA 10 premium may justify grading costs, especially for top stars and SSPs.Which 2024 Panini Donruss Optic Downtown players have the biggest PSA 9 to PSA 10 spread?Shohei Ohtani SSP and star players like LeBron James and Stephen Curry tend to show the largest spreads, with PSA 10 values notably higher than PSA 9.How much does a raw 2024 Optic Downtown card lose or gain when graded PSA 9 or PSA 10?Raw cards often sell below PSA 9 prices, so grading can add value, but only if the card achieves a 9 or 10 grade. Using tools like Midpoint helps estimate this before submitting.Do Downtown PSA 9 values hold up well compared with PSA 10 values?PSA 9 values generally hold solidly for many cards and offer a strong value proposition, especially for less scarce parallels and rookies where the PSA 10 premium is smaller.How do PSA population reports affect 2024 Optic Downtown prices?Lower PSA 10 population counts can increase scarcity and drive higher premiums, while higher populations may compress the PSA 9 vs PSA 10 price gap.