ScriptReference/LazyLoadReference_1

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ScriptReference/LazyLoadReference_1

https://docs.unity3d.com/ScriptReference/LazyLoadReference_1.html

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Comment by @nandos13:

In a standalone player, all assets are loaded when the player is loaded, or when asset bundles are loaded.

Please note, as the quoted part of the documentation suggests, this struct is only intended for editor use. Assets will be loaded immediately in built players as if the LazyLoadReference type wasn't used at all.
Changing your code to use this type is not a performance optimization at all, it's just to speed up iteration in the editor by reducing load times, etc.