Definitely don't buy ungraded. If you NEED to have an ungraded one in the PC, buy an 8 or lower and bust it out, but don't plan to resell it afterwards!
NEVER buy a MJ rookie card ungraded unless you know exactly what to look for and the seller can be trusted!
I'd be going with a low grade card myself, but the low grade cards are usually pretty bad in one aspect that makes them an eye saw..
Below is something else you should consider.
There's also another graded version out there that slips by because people don't actually look at the card itself...
BGS Authentic - ALTERED.
The below card was graded BGS 9, I cracked it open sent it in for a regrade thinking it might get a bump on corners or edges, I didn't touch the card I'm not THAT stupid, guess what it gets...
ALTERED.
So it's the exact same card that WAS graded BGS 9 and it's now somehow magically turned into an altered card even though I didn't touch the thing!
*BGS stated the edges on the left look like it "might" have been altered...LOL at that!
Front.
Back.
Compare that to another BGS 9.5 I have. ( I have 3)
Front.
yeah, like everyone else said, dont buy a non-graded. way too much of a gamble. the chances of it being real would be pretty low.
and i guess, going by the above story, if you buy a graded one, just take it for what it is and dont try for a re-grade.
would be interesting to know the estimated print run on these tho. anyone got an idea? someone must know/have figured it out...?