Replying to Larry Bird

Yes.. i agree that he was an amazing basketball player at his time but...
I have been having an argument with a friend and our math teacher about Bird's abilities and the probability that he could make it in the NBA today.  I say the he coul dmake the NBA but wouldn't be the kind of star that he was.  My teacher thinks that he would be almost as good if not just as good, and my friend thinks that he wouldn't play at all.  This is all in comparison to the athleticism and ability of current players.

Thoughts?