DRIP is an all-in-one player impact metric published by The Athletic and developed by analysts Austin Nguyen and Sam Illenin. It combines box score data with on/off information and produces offensive (ODRIP) and defensive (DDRIP) components, updated daily during the season.
DRIP uses a RAPM-informed approach that blends box score priors with on/off lineup data, similar in methodology to EPM and LEBRON. It applies a smoothing prior to reduce early-season noise.
Methodologically credible — uses the right category of approach (regularized plus-minus with box score prior). Updated daily, providing timely estimates. Produces interpretable split components.
Published through The Athletic, which operates behind a paywall. The full methodology is not publicly documented in detail. Relatively newer and less community-validated than EPM or LEBRON. Not available for historical seasons in the way that BPM and DBPM are.
DRIP is not currently used in APEX primarily due to accessibility and historical coverage constraints. APEX requires metrics available back to at least 2000 for backtest purposes; DRIP's coverage does not extend that far. EPM and LEBRON fill the same methodological role with better coverage and more established community validation. DRIP could be a candidate for a future APEX input if coverage expands and the methodology is more fully published.