The 1996-97 season began with PAOK playing without Bane Prelevic for the first time (he had joined Kinder Bologna), with the French Michel Gomez taking over the head coaching position and an important American point guard, Scott Skiles being the new star of the team. On a purely individual level, the season was stigmatized by the serious injury Stojakovic suffered (double fracture of leg and tibia that kept him off courts for several months) and the unexpected but completely on point decision by the President of the Club, Apostolos Alexopoulos to offer Scott Skiles the coaching position of the team.

Although starting from the 6^th place of the regular season, PAOK played some amazing games and after originally getting past Panathinaikos (2-1 victories and despite not having home court advantage). PAOK did not succeed in getting past AEK in the playoffs semis and went after 3^rd place and participating next season’s Euroleague in the games against Peristeri. Although coming into the series without home court advantage, PAOK dominated the series with a 3-1 record and emphatically succeeded in its goal, just like the impressive 78-47 score of the last game in Alexandrion proves.