The Herkimer 9' was the name of the first basketball team that played in the first basketball game in Herkimer on February 7, 1891. Lambert Will was the coach/player that many claim to have developed many of the rules still used today. The first rim and ne

HERKIMER , NY - MARCH 10: The Herkimer Originals ABA Basketball team: Front row Left to right: Ben Walters, Jvon Evans, Matt Baldwin, Justin Mayers and Cody Passalacqua Back row left to right: Lavoy Leggett, David Golembiowski, Matt Welch, Joe Sullivan, Josh Gregory, Ryan Schmadel. The Herkimer 9' was the name of the first basketball team that played in the first basketball game in Herkimer on February 7, 1891. Lambert Will was the coach/player that many claim to have developed many of the rules still used today. The first rim and net have also been traced back to Herkimer.. Photo by Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post via Getty Images)