The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of motivational covert and overt self-talk on basketball free throw skill learning in adults. 60 students of Gorgan Islamic Azad University based on pretest scores randomly assigned in three equal groups (n₁=n₂=n₃₌20). Participants in motivational covert and overt self-talk conducted basketball shooting skill acquisition in 12 sessions (each session 30 throws) with repeating “I Can” slow and loud respectively before of each throw. The transfer and retention tests were held respectively 24 and 48 hours after the last session of acquisition. Repeated measures and one-way ANOVA were run to analyze the data and LSD post hoc test was used to compare groups. Significance level for all statistical tests was set at p<0.05. Results revealed that the effect of practice sessions (p≤0.05), group (p≤0.05) and practice sessions × group (F_(10.12,57)=5.84,p≤0.05) was significant (p<0.05). Results showed that motivational covert and overt self-talk in acquisition, transfer and retention tests was better than control group. But comparison between covert and overt self-talk was not significant (p>0.05). The results of this study indicate that motivational overt and covert self-talk is useful for learning relatively complex tasks.