Java: How to check for null pointers efficiently

Question

There are some patterns for checking whether a parameter to a method has been given a null value.

First, the classic one. It is common in self-made code

Answer 1

Aren't you optimizing a biiiiiiiiiiiiiiit too prematurely!?

I would just use the first. It's clear and concise.

I rarely work with Java, but I assume there's a way to have Assert only operate on debug builds, so that would be a no-no.

The third gives me the creeps, and I think I would immediately resort to violence if I ever saw it in code. It's completely unclear what it's doing.